I had no idea they were so active flying around like that prior to their mating flight. I guess it makes sense she went out the next day after those dozens of practice/orientation runs. Really interesting, thank you.
Hi from the UK David, I’m a big fan - this is such a great video because we recently lost our queen so we are living this situation right now - thank you very much and please keep the videos coming, they are so informative, Regards Paul and Sally
Absolutely loved your video, the love and passion with which you treat the bees can be perceived. Thankyou very much for the clear explanation, the showing of the bee hives, queen and math. God bless you
Hello, Thanks for sharing this great video. I think that she emerged 12 days after you made the hive queenless and not 16 days ...bees make queens from 1 day old larvae ( 4 day old egg) so according to my calculations she must have emerged on 25th 26th.
I've removed queens from cells on day 14 or 15, marked them(they are still asleep) and placed.them back into the cell and closed it up. They were fine, emerged, mated and were good layers.
Thank you so much for this video. We checked our nuc boxes 2 days prior and could not find the new queens. After watching your video we were able to go out and find queens in 5 of the 9 boxes we had.
Thanks for the bee math, always good to have a grasp of what the bees are doing and where they are on the timeline. Your newly mated queen looks as if she'll be a good laying queen if her quick start with laying brood is any indication. Always so tough to find the queen, mated or not! (also difficult to find eggs, usually have to use my camera close up and see them that way).
I hope finding an unmarked queen is a skill I can develop. Even after your superimposing the arrow pointing at her, I still couldn't really tell a difference between her and the other bees! Thanks for the very interesting video.
Her wings appear shorter because her abdomen is longer. Her thorax is more prominent. Legs appear longer and her movement is more determined than workers. It does take time.
Hey I appreciate all your videos! I had a new russian colony where the queen died before install... Installed the queen-less bees and gave them ital/carni hybrid eggs a week later... They raised a few queens... I think my new one is mated but I haven't seen the eggs yet so not certain. Its also no guarantee that she'd have a good pattern. This is my first season and I'm pretty shocked they recovered to this point so far. Feels good to think those russian bees at least had some legacy after their queen died.
Most interesting! I wonder if a virgin queen exhibits the kind of behavior in your video, maybe a couple of days before she takes off on her mating flights, so that she can learn where the location of her hive is, so she can return to the hive after mating...? Maybe somewhat similar to the orientation flights of new field bees out of the hive for the first time. Thanks! off to order your new book, to add to my Bee library and have for the students in my upcoming beekeeping class.
It takes 16 days from the time an egg is layed. When I make my splits I usually have capped Queen cells in 5 days so I don’t think they start with eggs, I believe they start with a very young larvae which would be day 3 after the eggs is layed if I remember correctly. That throws your time schedule for having an emerged Queen 3 days ahead. May that helps explain the timing on this video?
If the queen was returning from her mating flight while you were in her hive looking for her (with the cover off and a frame out) would she still be able to find her hive? Or, would she be lost?
Good question Brad. Normally in research a 1 day old bee is used because their stinger has not hardened enough to sting. But if they could, yes, their venom sack will pack the same punch.
Queens do not lose their stinger like workers because it is not as barbed. More like a wasp's stinger. However, for the most part she only sting rival queens. I've handled thousands of queens and have never been stung. I never even give it a thought.
I'm confused a little by your math. Why add sixteen days to emerge? Why not twelve or thirteen, as they will raise a queen from day old larva, not a newly laid egg.
Good question. I use a queen marking pen. It lasts out on the tops about 2 season, so I can easily wipe it off with alcohol when I need a clean slate :)
I found a queen i hatched from a cell today i marked her but how can you tell if she has mated yet no eggs in the hive yet im guesing she just hatched withen last few days just wondering how you can tell if shes a virgin still or mated ? thanks
I dissected a queen once to see. I have a dissecting microscope and so I surgically found the spermatheca and cut away the netting around it. If the spermatheca is clear, contains no sperm. If it is cloudy she is mated. However, the only true way to tell is her laying pattern in the hive.
Wow! First time i seen a queen fly. Must be playing around since she was still young. Very educational video. Thanks David.
I had no idea they were so active flying around like that prior to their mating flight. I guess it makes sense she went out the next day after those dozens of practice/orientation runs. Really interesting, thank you.
First time I've actually video taped such a flight too!
David your videos are my favorite, and the most educational. Imo
Very kind of you to say, I appreciate it.
Excellent video showing the timing of queen mating and starting to lay eggs! Thanks for doing this!!
What a fascinating video. One of the best ones I've watched on your channel. Just so entertaining and educational. Thanks David.
Fun to watch on a cold day, co.e on spring 🙏😊
I ordered the book on Amazon and thoroughly enjoyed it. I can't recommend it highly enough for the new beekeeper.
Awesome, thank you so much. I'm humbled that so many people love our book.
Excellent video! Exactly what I needed to watch and learn. Beginning 3rd summer with bees. Thank you Mr. Burns! ❤️🐝🐝
So nice of you
Hi from the UK David, I’m a big fan - this is such a great video because we recently lost our queen so we are living this situation right now - thank you very much and please keep the videos coming, they are so informative, Regards Paul and Sally
Well, thank you very much. I appreciate it you letting me know that my videos are helping.
This was so helpful. Thank you!
Absolutely loved your video, the love and passion with which you treat the bees can be perceived. Thankyou very much for the clear explanation, the showing of the bee hives, queen and math. God bless you
Thank you for taking time to let me know. Very kind of you.
Hello,
Thanks for sharing this great video.
I think that she emerged 12 days after you made the hive queenless and not 16 days ...bees make queens from 1 day old larvae ( 4 day old egg) so according to my calculations she must have emerged on 25th 26th.
One of kind video Dave!
appreciate it.
Loved this video. Very educational and entertaining.
Very kind of you to take time to let me know. Thank you for your kind comments
I’ve always been told through multiple mentors that you never mark a virgin queen for fear of damaging her wings. You are skilled and brave.
I've removed queens from cells on day 14 or 15, marked them(they are still asleep) and placed.them back into the cell and closed it up. They were fine, emerged, mated and were good layers.
Thank you so much for this video. We checked our nuc boxes 2 days prior and could not find the new queens. After watching your video we were able to go out and find queens in 5 of the 9 boxes we had.
Glad I could help!
Really fascinating, creatures of perfection, thanks. Peter
I just finished up Backyard Beekeeping. Nice read! I wish I would have had it last year when I was a rookie. Still very helpful.
Wow, thank you Joshua for getting our new book!! Please leave an amazon review, as that helps so much. Thank you for supporting Sheri and me.
Heya David, going to preorder. Curious to learn more. I’m going into my 4th season but can always learn more.
Thank you so much. keep learning something until the day you die!!
Thanks for the bee math, always good to have a grasp of what the bees are doing and where they are on the timeline. Your newly mated queen looks as if she'll be a good laying queen if her quick start with laying brood is any indication. Always so tough to find the queen, mated or not! (also difficult to find eggs, usually have to use my camera close up and see them that way).
Yup, my math probably wasn't perfect, but general idea.
Very interesting one.
Glad you think so!
nicely done.. great information
Glad you enjoyed it
Excited about that book :) going to go order a copy :)
Well, that is so kind of you. Thank you so much. I really enjoyed writing it with my wife, Sheri. She did all the recipe, wax, lip balm chapters.
I hope finding an unmarked queen is a skill I can develop. Even after your superimposing the arrow pointing at her, I still couldn't really tell a difference between her and the other bees! Thanks for the very interesting video.
Her wings appear shorter because her abdomen is longer. Her thorax is more prominent. Legs appear longer and her movement is more determined than workers. It does take time.
Hey I appreciate all your videos! I had a new russian colony where the queen died before install... Installed the queen-less bees and gave them ital/carni hybrid eggs a week later... They raised a few queens... I think my new one is mated but I haven't seen the eggs yet so not certain. Its also no guarantee that she'd have a good pattern. This is my first season and I'm pretty shocked they recovered to this point so far. Feels good to think those russian bees at least had some legacy after their queen died.
Bees are usually robust enough to snap back from a set back.
Most interesting! I wonder if a virgin queen exhibits the kind of behavior in your video, maybe a couple of days before she takes off on her mating flights, so that she can learn where the location of her hive is, so she can return to the hive after mating...? Maybe somewhat similar to the orientation flights of new field bees out of the hive for the first time. Thanks! off to order your new book, to add to my Bee library and have for the students in my upcoming beekeeping class.
That's what I thought too! And thanks for order our new book.
It takes 16 days from the time an egg is layed. When I make my splits I usually have capped Queen cells in 5 days so I don’t think they start with eggs, I believe they start with a very young larvae which would be day 3 after the eggs is layed if I remember correctly. That throws your time schedule for having an emerged Queen 3 days ahead. May that helps explain the timing on this video?
I’ll pre order the book. I. Bet it’s a good read too. Is there information about the beginning and end of the dearth season for in Illinois
Thank you! It is not specific to one state. Our team of edits kept guiding us on making it applicable to all places.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge!❤️✝️
You are so welcome
Love the wallpaper!
If the queen was returning from her mating flight while you were in her hive looking for her (with the cover off and a frame out) would she still be able to find her hive?
Or, would she be lost?
80% chance she came back. Check it after a few days
So interesting. thanks. David. Can young bees sting? And if they can sting, is their venom as strong as a grown bee? Thank you
Good question Brad. Normally in research a 1 day old bee is used because their stinger has not hardened enough to sting. But if they could, yes, their venom sack will pack the same punch.
Interesting
Thanks for this video, so interesting. How is it that you don't get stung by the queen when you pick her up like that?? I'm so nervous to do that...
Queens do not lose their stinger like workers because it is not as barbed. More like a wasp's stinger. However, for the most part she only sting rival queens. I've handled thousands of queens and have never been stung. I never even give it a thought.
I'm confused a little by your math. Why add sixteen days to emerge? Why not twelve or thirteen, as they will raise a queen from day old larva, not a newly laid egg.
Yes, I cannot say I know for certain these specifics. However, the math is close. Good eye.
What do you use to write on your covers.. dry erase markers?
Good question. I use a queen marking pen. It lasts out on the tops about 2 season, so I can easily wipe it off with alcohol when I need a clean slate :)
Where can you get you’re book in Australia
Amazon :)
I found a queen i hatched from a cell today i marked her but how can you tell if she has mated yet no eggs in the hive yet im guesing she just hatched withen last few days just wondering how you can tell if shes a virgin still or mated ? thanks
I dissected a queen once to see. I have a dissecting microscope and so I surgically found the spermatheca and cut away the netting around it. If the spermatheca is clear, contains no sperm. If it is cloudy she is mated. However, the only true way to tell is her laying pattern in the hive.
For me the most frustrating thing is finding the damn queen when my friend and I are doing a split at his place :(
Perfect practice makes perfect. Keep trying.
I like reading, Ordered it, Release date: Tuesday, July 7, 2020
Thanks! I've never heard the release date of my own book :)
I try to raise new queen , she fly at afternoon but she was gone. She never back forever
Finding the queen is difficult for me.
It is for all of us. Once you do it alot, it becomes easier. It is an important skill for good beekeeping.