Building Queen Cells
Verhalten der Bienen
Three types of queen cells need to be told apart.
Three types of queen cells need to be told apart. Swarm cells usually sit at the lower and side edges of the brood combs and are built in larger numbers, often around a dozen. Supersedure cells stand singly or in small numbers in the middle of the brood area. Emergency queen cells arise after the sudden loss of the queen; they are converted worker cells and can be recognized by their curved shape.
Empty queen cups do not yet mean swarming fever. They are present throughout the spring and should be left in place, because they are the best indicator. Only cells with an egg that are being tended count. From egg to emergence of a queen takes 16 days, and the cell is capped around the eighth day.
This determines the inspection rhythm during swarming season: anyone breaking out cells must not let more than nine days pass between two inspections, and seven are recommended for beginners. In late summer the opposite applies. Individual cells in the middle of the brood nest are then usually a silent supersedure and should be left.