Queen Cells?

[brooksbeefarm]

Had  newbee's call me last night that had taken the queen grafting class last year, they was on there way back from a outyard and had some queen cells they didn't use and wanted to know if i wanted them? They said they had been out of the hive fore 3 hours (the temps were in mid. 70's yesterday) and didn't know if they would be any good or not?? I've never grafted, but they said they should be kept in temps. of 90F? I don't think that's right? ive cut queen cells out of swarm hives, put them on brood frames in a nuc with a few nurse bees and took them to outyards to put in queenless hives without problems. Also i've heard of people selling and shipping queen cells and i dought they are kept at a 90F temp.? I didn't know these beeks and they caught me off guard and i was tired and didn't want to mess with them so i passed. They didn't say if they were free or selling them, and i didn't ask? Jack

[Lburou]

Jack, when the cells are in their last day of development, they can be shipped overnight.  If those cells are about ready to hatch you can place them in a hive and have a cup of coffee.  When the cells are still open larva and 48 hours old (5 days after egg is laid) you can carry them around in your pickup as you inspect your bee yard and introduce them as needed, they are readily accepted at that age, no problem. 

There are periods of time (days 10-14 after egg is laid) that the pupae are fragile and will be damaged if jostled or bumped.  I don't remember reading (I've looked for it), the temperature limits during that phase.  93-95 F is best, of course.  :-)

[LazyBkpr]

 I was told/taught that days 9 to 12 you should not fuss with those cells for any reason..  I have never fussed with YOUNGER cells than 13 days, but have as mentioned, cut out the 13 day old cells, put them in a cup in my trucks cup holder and drove to the next outyard.......    two more outyards later its to HOME and I then have a beer... and go make up nucs for the cells.   Have not had any bad experiences.. I would guess the emergence rate is around 85%  but these queens might be getting eaten in flight, or try to go into the wrong nuc etc, etc....  so the emergence rate should be considered the mated, laying queen a couple weeks later rate....

[Lburou]

One of the first queens I got from a queen cell cut off the frame looked great, except she had no wings.  I must have moved the cell during one of those vulnerable times. Here is the queen calendar I use.  It shows the days the cells are vulnerable.  Other sources narrow the vulnerable period to just two days, so it depends on who you read. 

[tecumseh]

my own understanding of the nature of queen cells pretty much mimics Lburou.  basically once the queen pupae begins developing a exoskeleton (it will turn from very white to tannish in color) is is fairly robust.  deviation in temperature can make the process of emergence longer or shorter < a queen cell seem to be more hardy at lower temperatures than at high temperatures although certainly any variation does LIKELY effect a queen's ultimate quality.  jostling of cells at the improper time can leave the cells nonviable.