QUEENS 105 



(No. 5, Fig. 51) springs open before she lias completed 

 tlie cut, and tMs gives the cell a hinged-lid appearance. 



When a number of queens are about to hatch 

 simultaneously, the apiarist may hear them emitting 

 a peculiar sound (z-e-e-p z-e-e-p). Many writers assume 

 these notes to be a challenge to combat. However, the 

 first one to hatch will kill all the other queens that are 

 nearing maturity. Cells not too far forward (Fig. 57, 

 No. 3) are passed over unnoticed. Very often the bees 

 do not wish the death of the extra queens (this is notice- 

 able at swarming time) ; so they allow the imprisoned 

 insects to make a puncture in the ends of the cells 

 sufficiently large to permit their tongues to come through 

 for food (No. 4, Fig. 51). During inclement weather 

 young queens are often detained prisoners in the royal 

 cells for days after the normal period has elapsed. 

 Should the apiarist open the hive at this juncture, the 

 ensuing upset distracts the bees ' attention from the cells 

 and several queens hatch simultaneously. 



QUEENS PLY ON OR ABOUT 21st DAY. 



There is a point here worth remembering. Normally 

 a young queen will leave the hive to fly on the fifth day 

 after her exit from the cell, but queens detained as shown 

 above are capable of flight as soon as they nibble out 

 of their cradles. This often leads to misunderstanding. 

 Ordinarily, the young queen on emerging from the cell 

 presents a downy, "groggy" appearance, as she crawls 

 over the combs seeking a cell of unsealed honey. (It 

 is only during the egg laying period that the qaeen is 

 so carefully fed by the workers). After crawling about 

 for 5 or 6 days the queen walks out to the front of the 

 hive and takes wing. With her head towards home she 

 circles in graceful flight, taking great care to make a 

 note of the surroundings. In a short while her peculiar 

 flight is no longer heard. She does not remain away very 

 long, but soon returns. She repeats this performance 

 for several days until fertilised by the drone. 



