Insy
House Bee
- Joined
- May 23, 2011
- Messages
- 304
- Reaction score
- 2
- Location
- Essex
- Hive Type
- Commercial
- Number of Hives
- Only I know :D :D
Okay so today's inspection was both a real mess/headache, a couple of stings etc etc.
But my questions are on queens if thats okay.
1. When a virgin queen goes out on mating flights, when HM has successfully mated will she change colour????
2. Will a mated queen from 1 hive leave and join the hive/colony next to it and not be killed???
The split with a virgin queen was from italian stock and when i saw it emerged and running around the frames it was a light brown italian colour, now on inspection today there was eggs in some of the frames!!!!!! WOHOOOO but heres the confusing bit.
Its a really dark queen bee with some glimpse of yellow but it looks more like the mated queen i put in the hive next to it.
But both hives have fresh eggs so, can a virgin queen once mated really change colour so much?
Thanks
Hopes thats not confusing.
But my questions are on queens if thats okay.
1. When a virgin queen goes out on mating flights, when HM has successfully mated will she change colour????
2. Will a mated queen from 1 hive leave and join the hive/colony next to it and not be killed???
The split with a virgin queen was from italian stock and when i saw it emerged and running around the frames it was a light brown italian colour, now on inspection today there was eggs in some of the frames!!!!!! WOHOOOO but heres the confusing bit.
Its a really dark queen bee with some glimpse of yellow but it looks more like the mated queen i put in the hive next to it.
But both hives have fresh eggs so, can a virgin queen once mated really change colour so much?
Thanks
Hopes thats not confusing.