Condition of post-mated queens

[maddydog]

Looking through some nucs today that I made up on the 1/5 with sealed QCs.
One of the queens had detritus at the tip of her abdomen. In addition the whole of her abdomen was continuously arched downwards, almost as if she was trying to sting or lay but she made no attempt to do either. The workers treated her normally as she (slowly) walked around the frames.
Just wondered if other beeks have noticed anything like this?

 

[tonyofarr]

It could be a mating sign, check for eggs in about a week.

 

[Bosleeu]

Looking through some nucs today that I made up on the 1/5 with sealed QCs.
One of the queens had detritus at the tip of her abdomen. In addition the whole of her abdomen was continuously arched downwards, almost as if she was trying to sting or lay but she made no attempt to do either. The workers treated her normally as she (slowly) walked around the frames.
Just wondered if other beeks have noticed anything like this?

It may be a plug from mating, they do sometimes have it attached after the mating flight. Check again in a few days, it may be gone and hopefully she will be laying.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

 

[sherwood]

Looking through some nucs today that I made up on the 1/5 with sealed QCs.
One of the queens had detritus at the tip of her abdomen. In addition the whole of her abdomen was continuously arched downwards, almost as if she was trying to sting or lay but she made no attempt to do either. The workers treated her normally as she (slowly) walked around the frames.
Just wondered if other beeks have noticed anything like this?

Almost certainly she has been out on a thoroughly successful flight enjoyed herself immensely and what you see is what remains of the now dead suitor's genatalia

 

[For want of a better word]

Almost certainly she has been out on a thoroughly successful flight enjoyed herself immensely and what you see is what remains of the now dead suitor's genatalia

Workers usually remove it..... have heard tell of one beekeeper who took the queen to his AI lab and removed the bits carefully under the microscope.. CO2 used to anesthetise her!... was 100% successful I believe

Yeghes da