What is a sign that a queen is present in a hive?

The presence of eggs in the comb is a strong indication that a queen is actively laying eggs, which means she is present in the hive. A healthy, functioning queen will continually lay eggs to maintain the population of the colony. The presence of eggs, which are typically small and white, can be seen in the cells of the brood nest and indicates that the queen is reproductively active.

While worker bees are necessary for the hive's function, their presence alone does not confirm the queen's existence since worker bees can be present even without a queen. A scattered brood pattern can suggest issues within the colony, such as disease or a failing queen, but by itself does not confirm that a queen is present. Similarly, less honey production may be a management or environmental issue but isn't a direct indicator of the queen's presence or absence. Therefore, the most definitive sign of a queen's presence is indeed the observation of eggs in the hive.