Queen cell sizing

[derrick1p1]

I checked a hive that seemed to be doing well last week, but now has an emergency cell in it with no evidence of a laying queen (no eggs, looked and could not find the queen).  This is the only queen cell in this hive.  In comparison to some queen cells I've seen, this one doesn't look to be very large.  It is not capped, but the larvae inside is very large and surrounded by royal jelly.  Does anyone know if the size of the cell is an indication of the quality of the future queen or not?

Thanks,
Derrick

[BMAC]

Great question.  Considering that the size of the queen is directly related to the quality of the queen then I think we can intelligently state that The size of the queen cell can also directly relate to the quality of the queen...

If you believe she is an inferior queen due to size and if you like the genetics thn allow this queen to mate and lay some eggs.  Once you validate the queen has well mated kill her and allow them to build a better queen.

[annette]

I checked a hive that seemed to be doing well last week, but now has an emergency cell in it with no evidence of a laying queen (no eggs, looked and could not find the queen).  This is the only queen cell in this hive.  In comparison to some queen cells I've seen, this one doesn't look to be very large.  It is not capped, but the larvae inside is very large and surrounded by royal jelly.  Does anyone know if the size of the cell is an indication of the quality of the future queen or not?

Thanks,
Derrick

Just posted something similar on my post about my laying worker hive. They finally made a couple of queen cells and they are rather small in size and I was worried they may not be good. Well Michael Bush said in this case"SIZE DOES NOT MATTER". I will try to find the post and quote it.

Here it is:
"Queen cells vary greatly in size.  I've never seen any correlation between the size of the cell and the size of the queen, nor the size of a virgin queen and the size of the same queen when she's laying."

[derrick1p1]

Thanks Annette.  This gives me hope for this hive.  I'll keep my fingers crossed for a strong queen!

Derrick

[Michael Bush]

>Does anyone know if the size of the cell is an indication of the quality of the future queen or not?

Some people think it does.  I do not.  I've seen plenty of small cells produce nice queens.  I've seen ridiculously large cells that never even emerged or produced just average queens.