Comb built over queen cells

[Parsonage Bees]

Before I make up any nucs, are these cells likely to be viable?

Looked OK graft + 2 days. Now graft + 11 days so 14/15 day old. Left above QE on queen-rite/right? colony.

Can't put a cage over them so need to do something SOON.

Thanks . . . . . Ben

 

[Parsonage Bees]

Photo

 

[Ian123]

Photo

Cells should be fine just leave them as is or scrape back gently to fit in protectors....and really that’s quite mild.

 

[Parsonage Bees]

Cells should be fine just leave them as is or scrape back gently to fit in protectors....and really that’s quite mild.

One had been emptied. Don't think emerged!

One I damaged and there was a white larva with pale purple eyes so 12 days old. So would be dead. ?

Think I saw movement in one of them. No royal jelly left in cups. Have carefully cut back comb and put remaining 3 in 'hair curler' protectors back on top of hive.

Wait till they emerge or make up nucs tomorrow?

 

[jeff33]

I have bought some scalpels especially for that, super handy to cut out comb around cells without damaging them .

 

[Parsonage Bees]

Can the queen chew her way out of a bit of extra wax?

 

[jeff33]

Don't know that's why I use the scalpel to remove all the comb around the bottom of the cell.

 

[B+.]

Can the queen chew her way out of a bit of extra wax?

Yes.
However, hold the cell up to a strong light so you can see the outline of the cell. Then, trim them down so they are the approximate size/shape of normal cells.
The reason they do this is that they are the right age to draw wax and are well fed enough to do it. Sometimes, putting a frame of foundation a couple of frames away from the cells so they have somewhere to satisfy that urge.

 

[Parsonage Bees]

Not the biggest of queen cells under the comb.

 

[Ian123]

Middle and right look good to me, left hand side may need a little investigation.

 

[Parsonage Bees]

Thanks all,

3 cells emerged next day and are in mating nucs.

. . . . Ben

 

[masterBK]

If you hair roller cage the cupkit cells as soon as they are sealed this not only prevents early emerging queens killing the others but also prevents the bees wax webbing them together

 

[Parsonage Bees]

After I cut back the comb I put them in cages and returned them to hive. They emerged overnight which was a close, graft + 12 days.
Now the tricky bit. Getting them mated.

I'd have put cages on earlier but the colony was a bit grumpy about the repeated disturbance. Once i knew I had success I left them to it.

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

Yes.
However, hold the cell up to a strong light so you can see the outline of the cell.

If you do that DO NOT PANIC that you cannot see the shadow of the Q. (and correspondingly be careful not to do an ante-natal Ann Boleyn). They are remarkably translucent even at a late stage.

 

[Parsonage Bees]

When I posted the original photo I did decapitate a cell but luckily I think it had died. Not as developed as the others.

After the 3 remaining cells had hatched in the cages I couldn't see one of them. She'd climbed back headfirst into the cell presumable to finish off the royal jelly. Had to wait for her to back out.