Terro works too. Put it on the ground and the bees don't bother it. Last year I had the ants build a nest between the inner and outer cover. The bees kept them out of the hive though.Hubby carefully inspected the tree cutout hive today - found two capped queen cells! So we did not get the queen during the collection last week, but they are making their own. We also stole a frame of brood out of the strong hive to help keep a supply of new bees until the new queen assumes duty.
And we got ants. Going to try cinnamon and get the hive stands built, so they end up higher than the current pallet.
Did you see any eggs? Eggs are the first thing you want to look for. As long as the queen is laying, there's not much else for you to worry about at this point. It takes a lot of energy for them to build comb. If you have had cold weather, they may not be wanting to expand yet. Make sure they have plenty of sugar water while you are gone.It's my first year beekeeping too: got my nuc April 6. They're not working normally, though. The original five frames are just loaded with nectar, pollen and something capped; but I'm not sure I have brood. The girls are not drawing out comb on the new foundation. It's a concern, as I will be away for a few days and won't be able to intervene in some way to troubleshoot them. Ugh, wish I knew more about what to do for them. As for getting nailed on the eyelid, I got it on a fingertip two days ago and am still swollen and hot there--but your eyelid!!!
And yeah on the eyelid. My eye is swollen pretty much shut. I can force it open, but otherwise it stays shut.