Possible Virgin Queen - How soon to lay

[GaryB]

Have a swarm moved into hive on 22 June. Did first inspection 6th July, i.e exactly 2 weeks after arrival. Found Queen (unmarked), and there is already a frame of sealed brood. My question is, if she was a virgin queen, how quickly would she have mated and started laying? The swarm doesn't seem huge, so am thinking it was a caste, or have I got an unmarked mated Queen?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Size of the swarm is not always a good indication of whether it is a cast swarm or prime. Virgin could have mated as soon as the swarm settled so it could have been either.
Regardless - it's obvious you have a mated queen now!

 

[Erichalfbee]

I had a cast last year whose queen got out to mate the day they arrived

 

[GaryB]

Thanks for that. Just wasn't sure how quickly after arrival she went off looking for her mates.