(notes from september 3, 2009)
a great day working bees with laney. we got to see several workers hatch, but i was the only one celebrating. there wasn't a little welcoming committee waiting for the newbies to hatch... no cake, no banners, no marching band. not even a pat on the back. they just climbed out and got right to work! hmmm, might be a lesson in this...
look closely and you will see larvae at different stages. they progress in a fairly orderly fashion from younger larvae at the bottom of the frame to capped brood at the top of the frame.
capped brood with one working her way out...
closer view of the new arrival...
the cell on the top right is working her way out all on her own. the one on the left had a little help. she was just beginning to hatch when i peeled back the cap with a pencil point so i could photograph her emerging.
a curious nurse bee. wonder if she is giving the baby her assignment in bee-speak...
notice that she is blonder than the older nurse bee. she also has more hair on her thorax, which often, but not always indicates younger bees. she'll stay in the hive for about a month before she graduates to "forager".
and she's on her way.
