How do I Know if I have a queen in the swarm I have hived?

[enchplant]

Hi Folks,
I captured a nice swarm of bees a week ago and hived them in a deep box, with some drawn frames and one board feeder of sugar. They are nice and gentle and they have slurped down one feeders worth of sugar water and transferred it into honeycomb.

But i was in there today, to check on the feeder and searched for signs of a queen , but couldn't see any. If there is no queen in this group I would love to unite these bees with my other hive because it could do with a little strengthening. In total the bees cover 3 frames both sides.

So my question... Is there anything behavioral that will tell you there is a queen in the hive? or do I have to wait till I see capped brood or eggs which so far I have not? How long do you normally have to wait to see signs of a queen?

[John Schwartz]

Just look for eggs :) Sure sign that's she's in there. If no eggs, then she's either not there or failing queen.

[iddee]

In a week's time, you should have eggs. Seeing them may be another story. I would give them another week. By then you should have large, white larvae.

[bailey]

my first swarm of the year had a little virgin queen. ( i saw her )  when i got them.
waited a week and looked today and saw that she was now a fat toad!

she sure looked good today when i looked  :-D :-D

give that swarm a couple of weeks before giving up on the queen
bailey

[doak]

Most times swarms will not take up residents if the queen isn't present. Laying or virgin. :)doak

[Finski]

.
If the swarm starts to draw ne combs, it means that they are satisfied with their life and  they have a queen.
Sometimes a swarm has several queens.

[doak]

Yes. :)doak