Time for laying workers!

[thestrawberrythief]

Hi.
How long does it take for worker bees to start laying if a colony has no Queen.
My bees swarmed before June 11 and there is no sign of any eggs, larva or sealed brood.
I gave them a test frame from another hive and was wondering if the presence of eggs and brood stops workers from laying.
Or will they start soon as it's a month since they were Queen right.
Regards G.

[iddee]

When did you add the frame? You should check it in 4 to 8 days for queen cells. Then you will know the condition of the hive.

[thestrawberrythief]

 Thanks for the reply.
 I put the test frame in on Saturday and hope to check it at the weekend.
 My query is how long do I have to get a mated Queen before a worker bee starts laying eggs? Would I have time to allow them to try and rear another Queen or should I think about buying a mated Queen or maybe even uniting them with another colony.

[Michael Bush]

It is not related directly to being queenless.  It is broodlessness that causes it.  Broodless for two weeks can leave laying workers.

[L Daxon]

If you find out you have a laying worker, it may take up to 3 insertions of frames w/eggs added one week apart before you see a queen cell.

The phermones from the brood should stop the laying worker(s) but it may take a couple of weeks before the girls build the new queen cell.