Egg question

[GSF]

Okay, so when we see the eggs we know that we've had a queen in there at least 3.5 days ago.

From my understanding when she lays them they are usually standing straight up. At some point in time they start to lean/lay over (?)before they hatch. How much time is there from when she lays it and it leans over? Or is there such a thing? I was curious if there was a way to shave a day or two off of the 3.5.

[sc-bee]

 I have always heard 48 hrs

Here is an excerpt from Glenn apiaries:
Here you can see a fertile queen and some of her eggs in the bottom of the honeycomb cell. The egg appears as a tiny grain of rice standing on end. Three days after being laid, it will lay down and hatch into a larva. After five more days of being fed, it will be sealed behind a wax capping and pupate, making about 80 somersaults and spinning a cocoon. On day 21 she will hatch out as a fully formed worker bee, preprogrammed with the instincts which she needs to perform the many different jobs she will do in the colony

[BeeMaster2]

On the first day the egg is straight up, the second day it leans over a little, on the third day it is layer down. The egg hatches, the larvae is on its side. The bees then add Royal jelly to the cell. One side is under the royal jelly and the other side is exposed to the air. The spiracles on one side proved air to the larvae. The bee larvae is fed the Royal jelly for 3 days and then it is fed bee bread. On the 6 day as a larvae, day 9 since laid, the bees cap the call.
So if you look real close at the eggs, you can determine how long ago it was laid.
Jim

[iddee]

Jim, this is good info for future readers, but correct your typo.

""day 9 since hatched, the bees cap the call.""
It should be since laid, not hatched.

[BeeMaster2]

Jim, this is good info for future readers, but correct your typo.

""day 9 since hatched, the bees cap the call.""
It should be since laid, not hatched.

Thanks Walley. Good catch.

[mtnb]

GSF I saved this picture the other day...in this picture it looks like they capped it on day 8?

[BeeMaster2]

Yes. I see different studies with 8 or 9. It can bee due to the size of the foundation or time of year, (temperature). I think foundation size has more to do with it because with a strong hive the bees can control the temperature.
Jim

[Dallasbeek]

This is a good thread, to be referred to later.  Thanks, Jim, mT Bee Girl and others.

[little john]

Yes. I see different studies with 8 or 9. It can bee due to the size of the foundation or time of year, (temperature).

In this case of 8 or 9 days ...  when does this period of timing start (and finish) ?  There will be a difference in the 'day-count' between an egg laid in the early hours of the morning, to one laid last thing at night - and also the time of day when the development is examined.

Also, I think it's useful to remember that the timing figures so often quoted for bee development are average figures (which is especially relevant to queen rearing), and are not 'cast in stone'.  There will always be a small percentage both earlier and later than the majority.

LJ

[KeyLargoBees]

Temperature plays a pretty major role in development. I cant find the study reference right now but i saw where during periods of consistently warm temps 8 days and slightly less is the norm to cap....but during spring and fall it is 9 and sometimes a tad more.