What does it generally indicate when eggs are laid singly or in irregular patterns in a hive?

When eggs are laid singly or in irregular patterns within a hive, it typically indicates the presence of laying workers. Laying workers are female bees that have taken on the role of laying eggs when a queen is absent or non-functional. Unlike a healthy queen, these worker bees are not fertile enough to produce a proper brood pattern and will often lay eggs sporadically throughout the hive, resulting in an irregular distribution.

In contrast, a healthy queen would lay eggs in tightly packed cells, usually in a uniform pattern. The way laying workers deposit eggs can lead to a situation where many of the eggs become drones, as they generally do not have the ability to fertilize eggs like a queen does. The irregularity of the egg patterns is a clear sign that the hive may be facing issues, often pointing towards a lack of a healthy queen. Therefore, identifying the presence of laying workers is crucial in determining the overall health and structure of the hive, allowing beekeepers to take appropriate management actions.