Robbing Apideas

[Black Comb]

I placed some at home yesterday (opened after 3 days with cell). No hives at home.
Being robbed today. Reduced entrance to one bee space..
Anything else I can do?

[Jon]

You need to put the cells in within 24-48 hours of queen emergence to avoid chilling and queen damage especially to the wings and they should not be opened until the virgin is emerged from the cell.
Is it bees robbing rather than wasps.
Using fondant rather than syrup reducers the risk of starting robbing.

I have about 30 apideas with 20 feet of 10 strong colonies and there has been no issue with robbing.

[Black Comb]

Thanks.
Yes it's bees robbing (not many wasps about this year). They have fondant.
I don't understand the part about queen emergence. 9 days after grafting I filled the Apideas and following day placed queen cells in Ap. 2 days later I have placed them on the mating stands and opened.Is this correct?

[Jon]

That sounds ok if you put the cell in 10 days after grafting.
I leave the apideas closed and do not set them out open on the stands until the queen has emerged.
I check this by removing the cell and checking that the queen is out.
I find that an apidea opened before the queen has emerged loses a lot of bees to absconding.
The presence of the virgin queen seems to hold them in the apidea.

[Black Comb]

Thanks. Now I understand

[fatshark]

If its bees robbing did you prime the Apideas with bees from the same or a nearby apiary? Perhaps some left, returned to their 'home' and told them about the fondant? I usually prime mini-nucs with bees from a distant apiary and keep them locked in for 3-4 days until the queen emerges.

If the virgin has only just emerged can you move them three miles or more?