Placement of Capped QCs into Quenless Hives

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DonkeyDonz

New Bee
Joined
Aug 12, 2018
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East Sussex
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Last weekend I placed 2 capped QCs into 2 queenless hives. How long should I wait until inspecting both next? One hive queenless 2 weeks, the other a month but not showing laying worker signs yet.
 
You should expect a laying queen 2-3 weeks after emergence of your cells. So provided they have enough space atm then I’d be inclined to leave them till then.
 
Personally I always do a quick check after 8 days to ensure Q has emerged - the odd dud occasionally.# Gives you a chance to repeat if needed. Otherwise a long time still queenless lessens survival chances.
Check just to see empty QC only: no attempt to find Q.

# handling damage by me.
 
Can I also dust with icing sugar but not inspect at this time?
Why would you want to ? Dusting with icing sugar as a varroa treatment has been proven to be a total waste of time and icing sugar.... forget it ... you can use the icing sugar for a sugar roll to check the varroa levels in a colony (quite accurately) but as a treatment ? Better off making a cake !

Abelo varroa tester 3 in 1

Post#3
 
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