- Apr 13, 2018
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The top 2 pictures are showing capped Queen cells in the new hive.
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I saw this “chain of bees” when I was looking at the original hive. Have you ever seen anything like that? Anyone know why they are doing that?
View attachment 2209509This looks like a capped Queen cell. The only problem is that this is in the original hive. They have a super on top that they aren’t using yet and they have 2 or 3 frames in the 2nd brood box ( that this frame came from) that are still pretty empty. And 1 or 2 other frames partly used. I think those are the 4 empty frames I put in when I did the split on June 16th.
So, I’m not sure what to think. What do you guys think? Are they trying to replace their Queen? ( seems like she has been doing a great job but I have never seen her). Are they getting ready to swarm? Am I not seeing Queen cells but rather something else?
I’ve messaged my mentor but haven’t heard from her yet.
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I think there are Queen cells in the making on this frame too. Also from original hive.
Edit: I was too slow, lol... so what Ralphie said
The chaining behavior is called ‘festooning’ ... I forget what the literature says it is... but to me it’s just one of those things bees do
I think it’s one of those things that has theories but isn’t really known... but you can google ‘honeybee festooning’