If the ground receives too much light exposure and warms prematurely, queens will emerge too early and not have flowers to feed upon. The depth of the chamber, soil conditions, and species influence the exact emergence date of individual queens. By May, most queens have emerged from hibernation and are searching for nesting sites. After emergence from the hibernaculum, queens will spend a period of time feeding to gain strength and complete the development of their ovaries. They feed on honey conserved in their honey-stomach from the previous fall, but must soon begin to forage for nectar and pollen.
Pollen provides protein and stimulates ovary development, preparing the queen to begin egg laying.
At night queens in the process of searching for a nest find shelter beneath plant leaves. Once a queen is strong enough and her ovaries have developed she will begin searching for a suitable nesting site. Just as a suitable hibernaculum allows a queen to survive winter, the development of a successful colony is dependent on the selection of an appropriate nest site. Queens spend 2 to 3 weeks searching for a suitable nesting site. A suitable nest site will be pre-existing, and have fine insulating nest material.