Printed brood is also called indoor, as opposed to open brood. Each beekeeper needs to familiarize himself with the maturity of the printed brood, as well as understand how to properly spit out the bee colonies.
What is print brood?
Printed brood is called pupae and larvae of bees that grow in sealed cells. They are sealed on about the sixth day of growth of the larva, when it has grown significantly and extended its head to the exit. Prior to this, the eggs that were laid by the uterus and the larvae emerging from them are in open cells and are open brood.
The lid sealing the cell with the larva is different in shape. Smooth lids are formed for the bee brood, and a bulge is made for the drone brood.
There is no special brood for the uterus - they appear from the same cells as the working bees. A drone brood should appear only in large cells, if it appears in a bee honeycomb, then it is called a fake.
The brood is young and ripe. It becomes ripe when a maximum of 3 days is left before the departure of the bees. The brood builds up the strength of the bee family, so it can be added to a weaker family.
Brood on one honeycomb can vary in different degrees of maturity, since filling it with a uterus can take more than one day. In any case, a discrepancy of several hours is present. The fertile uterus can lay one egg per minute - in the spring per day, their number can reach about 1.5 thousand. Their total weight is approximately equal to the mass of the uterus itself.
The place with the largest brood in the hive is called a nest. The honeycomb uterus fills alternately. This allows bees to better warm the nest, even with little power.
Ripening time
Of the eggs laid by the uterus, the larvae appear after about 3 days. They are small and white. Bees immediately provide them with food. The appetite of the larvae is so high that it takes only 5-7 days to complete the growth. During this period, the weight increases hundreds of times.
After sealing the cell with the larva, the next stage begins. It is called the stage of external peace. It is at this stage that the open brood becomes closed.
After sealing the cell, the larval metamorphosis continues. The subtlest cobweb envelops her - a chrysalis forms. Such a larva makes itself. Initially, it has a white color. Cocoon spinning in uterine larvae begins on the 6th day, working bees - on the 7th day, drones - on the 8th day of larval development.
In the next stage, the larva becomes a pre-pupa. Before the brood is sealed, 4 molt passes. Cocoon spinning takes about a day, then after a few hours the fifth molt begins.
Pupa gradually forms the head, wings, legs. Along with its maturation, the color also changes. Darkening begins with the head.
The duration of the larvae in a sealed state until the emergence of the formed insect depends on the type of individual:
- working bee - about 12 days;
- uterus - about 9 days;
- drones - 2 weeks.
The timing of the development of bees varies depending on their status.
If we consider the entire stage of development from a one-day egg, then:
- a working bee leaves after 3 weeks;
- the uterus is fully ready for 16-17 days;
- drones develop the longest - 24 days.
With the development of bee brood, the nutrition for working bees and queens is different. At the initial stage, it is the same - royal jelly. Then the food for working bees becomes coarser, as honey and pollen are added to it. The main nutrition of the uterus is still royal jelly, but the nurse-bees add to it a special substance produced by their glands. It is biologically active, but is excreted in such small portions that its chemical composition could not be recognized.
Sharing family layering
The lay is the selected brood and bees from strong families. Printed brood can be used to strengthen the already formed layering or for its formation at the initial stage. The second option is usually used as an anti-war measure.
A weak family is given a frame with a closed brood when it is already ripe, that is, the bees are almost ready to go. Before transferring the frame with the brood of bees, they shake it off.
After the insects exit the brood after 3-5 days, you can add another 1-2 frames with printed brood. This option is especially good for families with an infertile womb.
Closed (printed) brood is called after sealing it with lids. The maturity of bees depends on their status (working bee, uterus, drone). Printed brood can be used to form a layering to spawn a family or prevent swarming.