Two weeks since emergence

[beeno]

Hi Pros,
As the title says, capped honey arc, nectar, pollen, not many nuc bees, 3 queen cups (are they just bored waiting, I am) and nice fat queen. No eggs or larvae. Anything I can do to help apart from waiting another week! Oh yes they are eating some of that pollen substitute. Had to transfer frame feeder to starving swarm - sat in bush for 4 days before I was called. I think I know the answer.

 

[susbees]

Capped QC put in three two frame Commercial nucs 5th July...2 to 3 day old eggs in all three yesterday 24th July. For info re timescale.

June splits failed to hatch let alone mate...

 

[Finman]

Hi Pros,
As the title says, capped honey arc, nectar, pollen, not many nuc bees, 3 queen cups (are they just bored waiting, I am) and nice fat queen. No eggs or larvae.

I think I know the answer.

More information adds pain

 

[meidel]

sat in bush for 4 days before I was called. I think I know the answer.

Must we all sit in a bush for 4 days before getting the answer too?

 

[Poly Hive]

To avoid the one word answer that some detest.

Weather.

PH

 

[beeno]

Thanks Susbees and others - Same time scale. Can only hope I did miss the eggs! It has happened before. Shall be able to see the larvae next week then! Can't blame the weather here she has had plenty of opportunities to get mated. They do like it hot I believe. Any significane in making play cups at this stage?

 

[Poly Hive]

No

PH

 

[beeno]

Hi All,
What a difference 5 days makes to someone who is rubbish at seeing eggs. Largish larvae. Halfway post!

 

[Poly Hive]

Result.

Patience pays off.

PH

 

[burren]

exc beeno, breathe...breathe...

 

[MuswellMetro]

Hi All,
What a difference 5 days makes to someone who is rubbish at seeing eggs. Largish larvae. Halfway post!

Specsavers do free Eyetests

 

[beeno]

Specsavers do free Eyetests

I don't need the test. I know my eyes are bad. The glasses are not free and they try to insist you by from them which is about £300.

 

[meidel]

I don't need the test. I know my eyes are bad. The glasses are not free and they try to insist you by from them which is about £300.

or try £1 reading glasses from £land in the pockets of bee suits

 

[beeno]

Hi meidel,
I have a pair of those. I do not think I will ever graduate to invest in a 'proper' pair of glasses - it would be too stressful as I can never remember where I have put them! The reason, I realised the other day, for not seeing eggs very often is that I do not have the courage to move the frame away from the hive into proper sunshine as I am petrified of losing HM. Particularly when it comes to virgins as they can be a bit flighty.

 

[oliver90owner]

Particularly when it comes to virgins as they can be a bit flighty.

Not a problem as you will only be three days behind her starting laying if you can see larvae! You should not be overly worried on that score; you should have some idea from the weather, the history of the bees etc as top when is a good time for checking (due patience and all that)

For the others: check for the queen, shake the bees off the frame, check again for the queen, then take frame to better lit area.

Alternatively, move the hive!

 

[Poly Hive]

Not being funny but if your eyes are that bad I do hope you are not a driver?

One you will be illegal on the road and

Two I don't want you on the road next to me.


PH

 

[beeno]

Particularly when it comes to virgins as they can be a bit flighty.

Not a problem as you will only be three days behind her starting laying if you can see larvae! You should not be overly worried on that score; you should have some idea from the weather, the history of the bees etc as top when is a good time for checking (due patience and all that)

For the others: check for the queen, shake the bees off the frame, check again for the queen, then take frame to better lit area.

Alternatively, move the hive!

Hi Rab,
Us newbies are absolutely phobic about losing our queens whether it's through flying away, dropping off the frame and missing the hive, being rolled, crushed etc. etc. However, since I have four now (two to be confirmed as non-drone layers - let's not get ahead of ourselves in this game) I might become more relaxed.
So, once she has started to lay she is 'anchored' to the frames and will not fly off? Since I am presently working with swarms there is not much history apart from the largest swarm swirling around all day before it settled and tried to abscond. Since I cannot shake my top bar frames it is very difficult to spot an unmarked queen on a frame full of bees. Although I look for her I am working on the basis that she will run away from the light ahead of the frame to be inspected! So far I have only seen my nuc queen (and I hope I can find her again to mark at a later date, when established) and the queen in the hive mentioned above as she tried to get through the queen excluder to join the swarm. From your answer to my other thread that a prime swarm usually lays within 3 days (had one last year that laid day 2) am I to assume that I have three 2012 queens? Many thanks for your assistance.

 

[meidel]

Hi beeno

with time you will become less phobic - i remember that feeling well - it lsts throughout the week until the next inspection! Now though, as long as i see eggs i'm relieved - you can blow on the frame to get the bees to move away so you can see a little better - usually if you can spot standing up eggs she's on that frame