Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => DOWN UNDER BEEKEEPING => Topic started by: damienpryan on October 18, 2020, 09:31:49 pm

Title: How long to wait for a Virgin...
Post by: damienpryan on October 18, 2020, 09:31:49 pm

Hi Guys,

I've caught 3 swarms 7-14 days ago...
One of the new colonies shows no sign of a queen (no eggs, cannot find her) but is busy building comb etc.

I'm guessing it is a virgin queen swarm.

How long should I wait for her to start laying?
And if she doesn't, should I just combine it into one of the new colonies.
(I have too many hives anyway...)

Cheers

Damien

Title: Re: How long to wait for a Virgin...
Post by: TheHoneyPump on October 19, 2020, 07:22:19 pm

Queen from scratch (larvae):   22-28 days to laying.  Longer if weather is poor for mating flights. 

Queen from virgin stage:  8-16 days to laying.  Longer if weather is poor.

Hope that helps!

Title: Re: How long to wait for a Virgin...
Post by: damienpryan on October 26, 2020, 03:58:30 am

Found her...

She's started laying...

Title: Re: How long to wait for a Virgin...
Post by: TheHoneyPump on October 26, 2020, 04:43:12 pm

Congratulations! 

Title: Re: How long to wait for a Virgin...
Post by: Michael Bush on November 02, 2020, 03:06:35 pm

To answer the original question a queen has 21 days from when she emerges to get mated.  After that she will become a drone layer if she gets mated.

Title: Re: How long to wait for a Virgin...
Post by: Beelab on November 04, 2020, 06:21:43 am

Thanks Michael B. Always wondered about that.