Emergency QC timeline?

[Brigsy]

Hi,

I know the timings for a normal swarm queen cell.

I did not realise/think there could be a shorter timeline for emergency queen cells.

Is there a document I could read with the timeline or could someone enlighten me.

I'm interested in the time from when they start to feed a larvae to sealing. Is 5 days still the feeding period?

I can find no mention of this in my books or the Wally Shaw PDF's.

Thanks guys




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[TryingToLetThemBee]

Hi,

I know the timings for a normal swarm queen cell.

I did not realise/think there could be a shorter timeline for emergency queen cells.

Is there a document I could read with the timeline or could someone enlighten me.

I'm interested in the time from when they start to feed a larvae to sealing. Is 5 days still the feeding period?

I can find no mention of this in my books or the Wally Shaw PDF's.

Thanks guys



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Depends what they have to go with. If they are like a half-blind grafter, it will be a few days (i.e. working with larvae 2 days after hatching gives 8-(3+2) = 3 ) They might try on older larvae, but are unlikley to seal them quicker and they probably won't work.

Left on their own, they will catch an emerging egg or 0-1 day larva, giving 8 - (3 + 1 or 0) = 4 or 5.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Hi,

I know the timings for a normal swarm queen cell.

I did not realise/think there could be a shorter timeline for emergency queen cells.

Is there a document I could read with the timeline or could someone enlighten me.

I'm interested in the time from when they start to feed a larvae to sealing. Is 5 days still the feeding period?

I can find no mention of this in my books or the Wally Shaw PDF's.

Thanks guys




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

it's still the same timescale from when the egg is hatched to when the cell is sealed, the only difference is, depending on how old the larva is they decide to make into an emergency queen, the time between you noticing a cell and it being sealed.
If they start with a newly hatched larva, cell sealed on day eight from that point, if a day old larva, it's day seven, three day larva day six etc etc.

 

[Brigsy]

Thanks very much. So the shortest time frame is likely six days to sealing if I have that right?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

they could try starting it on even older larvae - doubt the queens would be much good though.

Remind me of why you're asking the question please

 

[Brigsy]

Well, knowledge is power.

And I have just encountered some emergency cells for the first time on the queen minus side of an artificial swarm I am doing. Some were further on than I expected so it got me thinking on the topic.....

Always looking to increase my basic knowledge.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Bees can and do make emergency queens on 3 day larvae that is day 6. So on what day are QCs sealed?
This is important if you are practising swarm control by knocking queen cells down. The bees might....just might, swarm well before your next inspection

 

[Brigsy]

I have muddled my start day Ericha. Whoops.

So, it's possible to have a 3 day old larvae (day six) start being fed Royal jelly and be capped on day eight? It would likely just be a poor queen due to poor nutrition? (guess that's a separate topic)

And that's why a Wally Shaw Snelgrove should be sorted before day 12 as the emergency cell could have hatched.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I have muddled my start day Ericha. Whoops.

So, it's possible to have a 3 day old larvae (day six) start being fed Royal jelly and be capped on day eight? It would likely just be a poor queen due to poor nutrition? (guess that's a separate topic)

And that's why a Wally Shaw Snelgrove should be sorted before day 12 as the emergency cell could have hatched.

Yes and yes

Well, knowledge is power.

And I have just encountered some emergency cells for the first time on the queen minus side of an artificial swarm I am doing. Some were further on than I expected so it got me thinking on the topic.....

Always looking to increase my basic knowledge.

Which brings me down to the reason for asking, which is also linked to Ericha's answer.
If you were thinking of making increase by either Demarree method or walk away split, you could, to increase chances of a well reared queen go back in to the box three or four days after the split/Demarree and if you find any sealed QC's rip them down as they have been made using older larvae, keeping the open ones which will then hopefully be sealed on day seven or eight. I usually manage to get cells that are sealed on day eight after Demarree this way.

 

[Brigsy]

A lightbulb moment has occurred. Thanks.

Stored in the brainbox for future use.