Swarm preparation question

[Brigsy]

Hello,

Sorry me again. I have a number of play cups currently and only one with an egg that I could see and none charged. I intend to check within five days.

The question is, do all play cups get charged at the same time ie if I check a couple and they aren't charged do I need to check and find all to be sure whether to carry out my planned swarm control?

 

[Brigsy]

On a side note, I just remembered a post by Michael Palmer saying he squished the play cups with eggs in, I guess that would reset my inspection clock back to 7-8 days if I had done that rather than within 5 days.

 

[drex]

Hello,

Sorry me again. I have a number of play cups currently and only one with an egg that I could see and none charged. I intend to check within five days.

The question is, do all play cups get charged at the same time ie if I check a couple and they aren't charged do I need to check and find all to be sure whether to carry out my planned swarm control?

No they are not. Usually see queen cells at all different stages on inspection.

 

[Brigsy]

Thanks.

 

[Magwat]

If you have seen an egg in a play cup can you tell how old it is? If not then assume that it is on the point of hatching (3 days old). If you go back in 5 days you could be faced with a sealed queen cell so I would suggest that you check after 3 or 4 days to see if there is a larva in it.

 

[Brigsy]

Thanks, that what I was aiming for but I didn't factor in the egg hatching on the day I saw it, which I guess makes sense. So I shall factor a day less in my maths thanks.

 

[snelgrove]

Do not take any notice of eggs in cups, swarming intentions are only by a larvae in a cell with jelly. Very often eggs can be seen for a number of weeks, probably not the same eggs.

 

[Brigsy]

Not arguing with you, just trying to get it straight in my mind, if I inspected Saturday and noted the odd egg in a play cup, does that not have the capability to have been capped over before the following weekend if I just left it be?

 

[snelgrove]

Not arguing with you, just trying to get it straight in my mind, if I inspected Saturday and noted the odd egg in a play cup, does that not have the capability to have been capped over before the following weekend if I just left it be?

Not trying to be argumentive, just helpful, it takes 8 days for a queen cell to be sealed. Eggs in cups do not always develop. Don't worry till you see charged cells. every seven day inspections and you will be ok. However weather can upset that. Clipped queens make 14 day inspections possible.

 

[Brigsy]

You are being helpful thank you, although I am now confused lol

 

[justsmith]

i all ways find this pdf useful http://www.wbka.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/There-Are-Queen-Cells-In-My-Hive-WBKA-WAG.pdf

sounds like you are on step 3

Step 3 - There are queen cups with standing-up eggs in
them in my hive.
Investigation
- Check that no cells have gone a stage further
and contain a larva in a pool of royal jelly.
Remedial Action
- If there are only standing-up eggs no action
is required except to go onto amber alert - this may be the start
of something more serious. However, many colonies will have
eggs in queen cups several times during the season and still
make no attempt to swarm.

 

[snelgrove]

You are being helpful thank you, although I am now confused lol

for what reason?

 

[Brigsy]

Thanks Snelgrove and Justsmith. Yes Amber alert!

I am confused as far as the life cycle of the queen really. 3 days at egg, 5 as larvae, sealed at 9.

So if I have an egg in a play cup, can it not be at day 3 and hatch that day, leaving 5 before it can be sealed?

So if I leave it for the seven/eight days it may be too late. Or am I missing something obvious? I probably am.

 

[Magwat]

I would still advise a beginner, who may not be confident (or have good enough eyesight) to be able to identify the age of an egg, to go back in after 3 or 4 days and check to see if the egg has gone or has progressed to larva + royal jelly. It only takes one ......
A queen cell is sealed on day 8.

 

[Brigsy]

Thanks Magwat.

 

[beeno]

Development of egg: day 1 it stands up at the bottom of the cell, day 2 it start keeling over and day 3 it lies on its side at the bottom of the cell in readiness of hatching out. You are not confused at all. With bees it pays to be proactive rather than reactive as it saves you a lot of work.

 

[Brigsy]

I did not know that. Thanks. Interesting info.