Winter prep question

[Swarm]

A test comb is when the nit nurse gives you a once over.

 

[Millet]

Ok, I'll bite, I can guess, but what is a test comb?

A test comb is a frame of eggs and young brood from another colony.. the test frame is to be placed into a colony that you are unsure if you have a Queen or not.. if you have a Queen the bees will not draw Queen cells ??????? .. if you do not have a Queen the bees will make Queen cells from the Test frame..

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

if you do not have a Queen the bees will make Queen cells from the Test frame..

....or they may not

 

[Hans wilson]

Excuse the ignorance, but if queenless why would they not produce queen cell?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Excuse the ignorance, but if queenless why would they not produce queen cell?

Because they don't always do - they're bees.
It sometimes takes a few attempts (successive test frames) before they produce a QC, sometimes they never do.
That is why you will hear that the only definite result you can get with a test comb is if they produce a QC. If they don't produce a QC, they may have a queen, but then again, they may not

 

[Erichalfbee]

Spot on

 

[philipm]

Yes had one like that after numerous test frames and no sign of a queen cell they became laying workers.End result was to just give up on that hive.

 

[beeno]

if the colony has a queen that is not laying or have laying workers they consider themselves +Q.