First queens emerged 2015

[Jon]

I grafted larvae on 1st May and the first queen has just emerged in the incubator. Half a day early.
I put a few cells into apideas this afternoon and I could see movement inside them so some of those ones have likely emerged as well.
Bring on the good weather.

[fatshark]

Bring on the good weather.

On the basis that it can't stay as total carp as it's been for the last three weeks I did my first round of grafting yesterday. 8/10 looked like they've taken. The OSR is being largely ignored and colonies are about a month behind where I'd expect them to be at this stage of the season … I don't think we've had a single day over 20 C this month. Fingers crossed for some warm settled weather for queen mating in about 3 weeks time

[lindsay s]

I don't think we've had a single day over 20 C this month.

I don't think we've had a single day over 10C this month. All colonies are now being fed and it's to cold to inspect them.

[madasafish]

15C tops for last 4 weeks.. Lovely blossom though. We should have bumper fruit crops. Today it's cold and wet: thermal vest time (again)... Got rather damp on morning walk..
Hawthorn soon to come out - ...in this weather bees stay indoors..pop out quickly for warmer spells..

[Jon]

We have had 4 weeks of 9c-12c with just a couple of warmer days.
Lots of pollen going in and colonies are getting bigger but lighter.

[fatshark]

Spoke too soon … hail and strong winds …
I now have to add some thin syrup to the (aggressive) cell raiser … feck

[Bridget]

Lots of pollen going in and colonies are getting bigger but lighter.

I put on supers last week because I was becoming concerned about space and needed the frames tidied up and pulled out. However with the poor weather I think they will soon need feeding. I've not tried brood and a half before. Could I put the super below the brood box and stick a feeder on top and then if conditions improve take off the feeder and put a super on top?


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[fatshark]

I grafted larvae on 1st May and the first queen has just emerged in the incubator. Half a day early.

I checked my grafts this evening. The expectation is that all will be sealed tomorrow morning sometime. Two were sealed tonight, presumably because I chose slightly older larvae. Has anyone noticed if these make appreciably less well performing queens … ? (I'm assuming the weather will improve sufficiently that these girls don't need umbrellas and overcoats to get out and mate)

[Jon]

If there is plenty of royal jelly in the cell you are probably ok.
With the best ones there is still a load of jelly in the cell after the queen has emerged.

Saturday looks like it is just about warm enough for a queen to take a mating flight.

[fatshark]

Cells look pretty well loaded at the moment. I don't always get a chance to check the cells after emergence as most are just put into the mating nuc and the workers clean the cells out pronto after emergence. A friend likes the semi-translucent JzBz cups as you can look through the base of the sealed cell and just work with those stuffed with jelly. I prefer the convenience of the Nicot collars/cups/cages so don't have that option.

If I'm organised enough (Ha!) I'll record which nucs get these queens (and similar ones later in the season) and see if there's any obvious difference …

I hope Saturday works for you as the following week looks cooler again.