Queen cells or not queen cells??

[gillfish]

I am getting myself very confused looking for queen cells. My hive is in its second year and heaving with bees. There are lots of queen cups and lots of large raised cells but I don't know if these are queen cells as they are not as big as I would have thought and they are not hanging down, just sort of sticking out! Any advice welcome as I want to do an artificial swarm and want to get the timing right.

 

[huntsman666]

You know what a queen cup looks so perhaps this is too basic.

Could this possibly what you are seeing?

http://www.extension.org/mediawiki/files/f/fb/FirstLessonsFig8.jpg

If so, sealed drone cells in the corner.

 

[gillfish]

Thanks but I am pretty sure that it is not drone brood I am looking at. Seems to be one or two on their own and often up the side of the frame.

 

[barratt_sab]

Thanks but I am pretty sure that it is not drone brood I am looking at. Seems to be one or two on their own and often up the side of the frame.

Do they look like this:

As you can see, about 3cm long, like the last two joints of a small pinkie finger, in this case hanging down at the side of the frame.

Obviously, it'll only look like the second photo if you go at it with a sharp knife!

 

[drstitson]

AFAIK bit late for a controlled AS - weekend of 21/22 may would have been recommended (if not a few days earlier) - although given this year so far......

 

[For want of a better word]

AFAIK bit late for a controlled AS - weekend of 21/22 may would have been recommended (if not a few days earlier) - although given this year so far......

Still got bluebells in bloom in the more sheltered woods down here... and the May is not quite over yet!

I blame those meddling scientists with their global warming and all that hogwash!

... and WHEN will the BBC get our weather right... heatwave for bank holiday