Can worker bees lay egg and have larvae etc?

[john1]

Hi,
I had at least 7 queen cells in my hive a month ago.
I believe one of them may have hatched (at least 4 weeks before).

I could not see the queen yet in the hive, but I can see eggs and larvae including closed cells.
I was wondering whether the worker bees can lay egg and have larvae etc?
Thanks,

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

are the cells worker or drone?
Workers can lay viable eggs but as they are unable to mate, all the eggs are unfertilised drone eggs and they develop into rather runty drones

 

[RogerIvy]

runty drones

Love this description.

 

[JamezF]

Love this description.

That's my porn star name.

James

 

[john1]

are the cells worker or drone?
Workers can lay viable eggs but as they are unable to mate, all the eggs are unfertilised drone eggs and they develop into rather runty drones

I will check again to see whether they are drone eggs, if they are not then I will assume there is a queen somewhere in the hive.
Thank you so much

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

get a photo and share on here

 

[ericbeaumont]

check again to see whether they are drone eggs

Not sure what you mean, but the time to ID is at capped larval stage.

 

[drex]

To me drone eggs and worker eggs look the same. As said it is the capping that is different

 

[Erichalfbee]

Not sure what you mean, but the time to ID is at capped larval stage.

You can spot the cell walls being raised earlier than that.

 

[ericbeaumont]

You can spot the cell walls being raised earlier than that.

True.

 

[Sutty]

You can spot the cell walls being raised earlier than that.

If you know what you are looking for

 

[ericbeaumont]

I can see eggs and larvae including closed cells

Looked again at your first post, John, and realised that you have sealed brood already. If you're unable to Identify drone brood, do as JBM suggested and post photos here.

 

[Erichalfbee]

If you know what you are looking for

Of course...as in everything. I said it so the OP could think about what he saw. If you know that's what bees do you can look for it.