How long without queen before workers start laying?

Worker bees can start laying eggs approximately 20 days after a queen is removed or lost. This behavior typically occurs when the colony is queenless for a certain period, usually around 3 to 4 weeks. The workers will lay unfertilized eggs, which can develop into drones, as a means to attempt to sustain the colony. However, this is not a sustainable solution, and the colony may struggle without a proper queen.