Trying / learning to graft

[RichardK]

This evening I've had my first go at grafting and to be honest, I'll be astounded if it's a success! My expectation was that in the cell with the young larvae would be an amount of royal jelly, hence it would be moist. I'm finding that everything 'feels' completely dry - I've literally taken the frame from the hive under cover and started.

Should I be finding moisture around a larvae, or is dry normal?

Thanks in advance.

 

[madasafish]

I usually find very young larvae by the glint of the royal jelly.

 

[RichardK]

Is it possible to go too small? i.e. does royal jelly increase with age so a 2 day old larvae would have more jelly than a 1 day?

 

[drex]

I find that they are a bit wetter if fed a little. I too am a relative beginner at grafting. Last year my first lot were dry and none took. Better this year. I am getting on a bit. I find a torch and magnifier really helpful. the younger the larvae the better.

 

[Newbeeneil]

I am getting on a bit. I find a torch and magnifier really helpful. the younger the larvae the better.

I bought one of these
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Headband-M...5H86MZR/ref=pd_lpo_3?pd_rd_i=B085H86MZR&psc=1It made finding the right larvae so much easier.

 

[Ian123]

Very young larvae are drier than older for sure so it sounds like your going for the right 1s. Don’t be afraid if your practicing to take a larger 1 or 2 plus if you think you’ve mucked up don’t be afraid to double up in the cell. Most importantly don’t roll the grub. Any chance you rolled them go again!