Seeing eggs: Post your tips..

[Poly Hive]

I stand with the sun behind me and look from the sealed brood out to the larger larvae which taper down in size until I am looking at the tiny grubs and then the eggs.

If you cannot see them ever then either you are always queenless.... or arrange a session with a mentor to help you spot them as once you are tuned in that's it for life.

They are also easier to see against darker comb: white on white is tricky!

PH

 

[For want of a better word]

Specksavers make some items that can improve most elderly beekeepers ability to see eggs

Nos da

 

[Brigsy]

I'm ok spotting eggs but thought I would try a magnifying glass. It just enlarged the mesh on the veil and made me seasick lol

 

[For want of a better word]

I'm ok spotting eggs but thought I would try a magnifying glass. It just enlarged the mesh on the veil and made me seasick lol

How did you manage to hold a magnifying glass inside the veil?

Nos da

 

[Brigsy]

Haha.

 

[alfazer]

I heard of those specs with the white LED lights on the corners of the frames are good. Something to do with the colour temperature of the light.
Not tried them myself yet.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Small led pen torch

 

[Motobiman]

I asked my optician and he made up a pair of varifocals with the focal length of the reading part adjusted for closer reading and it made it a lot easier.

 

[Magwat]

I find them much easier to see in nice new comb, impossible in dark comb. A magnifying glass with 6 led lights is good but you do need to hold the glass and the comb close. Half the battle, as Poly hive says, is knowing where to look for them.
One tip I always give to beginners is that if all the 'eggs' are lying in the same direction you are seeing reflections in the bottom of the cells, not eggs. Eggs always lie in all different directions.

 

[YorkshireBees]

I stand with the sun behind me and look from the sealed brood out to the larger larvae which taper down in size until I am looking at the tiny grubs and then the eggs.

If you cannot see them ever then either you are always queenless.... or arrange a session with a mentor to help you spot them as once you are tuned in that's it for life.

They are also easier to see against darker comb: white on white is tricky!

PH

It is so much easier with sun light over your shoulder. I also carry a small pocket LED torch for when I don't have the Sun!
I have recently resorted to wearing eyesight enhancement to help when I need to look for specific things. Also as pointed out once you know what to look for and where then it becomes a lot easier. Same for spotting Queens.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I find them much easier to see in nice new comb, impossible in dark comb.

well not impossible, but difficult. I find it helps holding the frame with the top bat towards me so that I'm 'looking down' into the cells. doesn't help now that each eye has a different focal length so it takes a few seconds for the brain to adjust when looking close.

 

[Poly Hive]

I got glasses made in ASDA which was one pair of bifocals and a pair of sunglasses total £99. Then I asked for another pair and asked them for the focal length I needed for grafting. End result is excellent. Cost a further £40 or a queen....And got told by the hospital yesterday that I do not have glaucoma which the optician had concerns about, just a slightly drooping eyelid. Happy Days.

PH

 

[madasafish]

I have varifocals so just look down at them

 

[dn170221]

A small light coloured LED torch which I keep min the pocket of my smock.
If you cannot see the eggs the torch shows up/reflects off the pool of jelly that a young larva sits in so that is next best thing.

I do know of a friend that says a magnifying glass helps.

 

[alldigging]

There's some on this photo
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10154071543581638&set=gm.1172828526101967&type=3&theater

Which will give people who've not seen them an idea of what to look for!

 

[wessexmario]

Get one of these:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Twin-Lens-Pocket-Lighted-Magnifier/dp/B0024J4BMI/

cheap as chips, x3 and x6 magnification which is just right for looking into cells, and an LED light for overcast days or night inspections

 

[Monsieur Abeille]

I cant get on with wearing glasses inside the veil and as such have practically never seen an egg. If I can see small grubs then I'm happy, though I realise this probably make me a bad beekeeper.

 

[Millet]

I can see them easy now if the sun is shining however last year i could not, taking a picture and zooming it in reveals a lot what the naked eye can miss .

 

[REDWOOD]

The Trick is not to look for eggs but tiny strands of white cotton

 

[Dadnlad]

No problem on fresh comb, but if old brown comb get a child to look for you ....... "yes Dad there's hundreds, how can you not see them ?"

Oh to be 12 again