I have seen it stated in various forums and also in books that it is safe to take it as read that if you open the two boxes by leaning the top one back any cells can easily be seen.

I had a suspect colony last week so I tipped back the top brood after removing the supers and nothing to be seen. Still suspicious I looked further and there were a good 30+ cells over four frames, half in the top and half in the bottom and not a cell on the periphery all neatly in the middle.

Keep in mind: "Bees do noting invariably"

PH
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