Building Queen Cells
Verhalten der Bienen
Three types of queen cells need to be distinguished.
Three types of queen cells need to be distinguished. Swarm cells sit mostly 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 are not yet swarm impulse. They stand there throughout the spring and should be left alone, since they are the best indicator. Only cells that have been provisioned with an egg and are being tended count. From egg to the emergence of a queen, 16 days pass, and capping occurs around the eighth day.
From this follows the inspection rhythm during swarm season: anyone breaking cells must not let more than nine days pass between two inspections, with seven 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.