I installed two 3-lb packages in two Lang hive bodies Saturday a week ago.
First inspection, on the following Thursday, found both queens released,
though still hanging about in the queen cage. One (Queen of the B-Hive)
exited the cage during my inspection, so I removed the cage. I replaced the
other cage as I found it, with the queen (Queen of the A-Hive) still inside.
 
Just watching the hive entrances, there seemed to be very little purposeful
activity the first week -- just lots of milling about in front of the hive.
But today (Tuesday, ten days out) there was serious-looking goings and
comings (and full pollen baskets among the latter).
 
Opening B-Hive I found comb being drawn on about six of the ten frames and
pollen being placed in cells. I saw no eggs or larvae (though it was late
afternoon, and my manual said eggs could be hard to see). Though not
looking for her, I spotted the queen, who appeared to be walking around
with no particular purpose in mind.
 
In A-Hive I found no eggs or larvae. Pollen was in cells, as well as more
nectar/syrup in cells than in B-Hive. I did not happen upon the A-Queen. I
did find a couple of odd-shaped hood-like projections extending out from
cells on one frame.
 
Questions:
 
Should a check this coming weekend reveal eggs or larvae? If not, what
should I suspect/do?
 
Those odd hodd-shaped things in A-Hive weren't some nascent queen cells
that indicate the A-queen is no longer in evidence, are they?
 
I'm attempting mightily to be non-paranoid about all this. I've read at
least a dozen books (I'm obsessive that way). But it could be time for
someone to say, "Don't worry, just check on things this weekend."
 
Greg
 
____________________________________________________
Greg Hankins                       Mt. Gilead, NC
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