Who Replaces the Queen Bee?
The queen bee is the central figure in a honey bee colony, responsible for laying eggs and ensuring the survival of the colony. However, a queen bee’s lifespan is typically around 2-3 years, and eventually, she will die or leave the colony. But who replaces her? In this article, we’ll explore the process of queen replacement and the different methods beekeepers use to introduce a new queen to their colonies.
Natural Supersedure
In a natural process called supersedure, the colony will replace the queen bee when she reaches the end of her lifespan or becomes too old to lay eggs efficiently. This process is usually triggered by the queen’s declining pheromone levels, which signal to the worker bees that it’s time to produce a new queen.
Royal Larvae
To replace the queen, worker bees select several larvae within a specific age range and begin to feed them a diet of royal jelly and bee bread. This special food is rich in nutrients and hormones that stimulate the larvae’s development into queens.
Queen Cell Construction
The worker bees then build queen cells around the royal larvae, which are usually located in the upper part of the honeycomb. The queen cells are larger and more complex than regular honeycomb cells, with a rounded shape and a cap made of wax.
Queen Emergence
After about 7-10 days, the larvae emerge from their queen cells as fully formed queens. At this stage, the new queens are still immature and require several days to develop their pheromones and reproductive organs.
Battle for Dominance
In a natural colony, multiple queens may emerge at the same time, leading to a battle for dominance. The dominant queen will kill off her competitors, while the loser queens will either leave the colony or be killed by the workers.
Beekeeper-Introduced Queens
Beekeepers often introduce a new queen to a colony to replace an old or dying queen, or to control swarming. This process involves placing a queen in a special queen cage, which is designed to allow the queen to emerge and interact with the worker bees while preventing her from escaping.
Queen Cage Construction
The queen cage is made of a plastic or metal frame with a mesh bottom and a small entrance hole. The queen is placed in the cage, along with a few worker bees to help her acclimate to the new environment.
Queen Release
The queen cage is then placed in the colony, where the worker bees will accept the new queen and allow her to emerge from the cage. The queen release process usually takes several days, during which time the workers will feed and care for the new queen.
Signs of Queen Acceptance
Once the queen has emerged from the cage, beekeepers can check for signs of queen acceptance, such as:
- Pheromone levels: The queen’s pheromone levels should increase over time, indicating that the workers are accepting her as their new queen.
- Laying eggs: The new queen should start laying eggs within a few days of her release, indicating that she is healthy and reproductive.
- Worker behavior: The workers should start caring for the new queen and building cells around her, indicating that they have accepted her as their new leader.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the queen bee plays a crucial role in the survival of a honey bee colony, and replacing her is an essential part of beekeeping. Whether through natural supersedure or beekeeper-introduced queens, the process of queen replacement is complex and fascinating. By understanding the different methods and signs of queen acceptance, beekeepers can ensure the health and success of their colonies.