Richard Spiekhout wrote:
 
I did find very large larva, all in brace comb on the top bars, about 3/4 " long
and fat.  I
 
> did not see any peanut looking queen cells.
> What have I seen today?
> I am in Ky USA. Is it too early for them to make queens?
> I have queen ordered to use to make splits.  Some say leave the old queen in
> the colony and put the one in the nuc.  Some say visa versa. How do I know
> what's best?
 
You saw drone brood in a very typical location.  When separating brood chambers,
this is a good place to examine for varroa mites, since they prefer drones,
especially in the spring.  They will be dark red-brown, and very visible upon the
white drone pupae.
 
I would advise always giving the new queen to the nuc.  She will be accepted much
more readily.  Occasionally I have inadvertently moved an older queen to a nuc,
and she will immediately jam everything with brood - not a very good idea.
 
Ted Fischer
Dexter, Michigan USA