Oh no! Where are my bees? Pagden Artificial Swarm Update - Part 6

Disaster! Having left my splits with one queen cell each I failed to go back in a week later. Well, they made lots more emergency queen cells and have probably swarmed multiple times. Lesson learned, next time I will be going in to remove any excess cells.

[@aidan4158]

The queen cells can be made out of eggs or two day old larvae therefore after selecting the queen cell you want to keep. Remove the other queen cells and then go in 7 days later to destroy the queen cells they have made leaving the first one you had decided to keep.
Do not shake the frame with the queen cell that you are keeping as the larvae could become dislodged causing damage.
The queen once emerged will take 5-6 days to mature before she can take a mating flight and will make multiple mating flights, mating with up to 20 drones. She will then take 2-3 weeks before laying eggs.
Hope this information helps 🐝

[@InTheHive-Beekeeping]

Thanks Aiden. I had in my head that as the one I'd left was so much more mature, they wouldn't try to make more. Lesson learned!

[@DenbeeHoney]

It pays to take all the cells down to 1 and check again h6 days later

[@InTheHive-Beekeeping]

Thanks Denbee. I should have known to check again, not a clever move but won't let it happen again.