From my local BKA FB page

[JamezF]

"Sometimes it is in the colonies best interest to remove any Queen cells."

Ignoring the grammatical error, discuss?

James

 

[Wilco]

Well many of the former colonies seem keen on rejecting the monarchy?

More seriously, no.

 

[Michael Palmer]

I can think of a couple circumstances when removing queen cells would be beneficial...maybe to the beekeeper more than to the bees?
The cell building colony with emergency queen cells on grafting day.
The colony in the process of being requeened that has emergency queen cells when the beekeeper waited a bit too long to install the new queen.
The newly made nucleus colony that rejected their first given queen, in about 10 days or so, the E cells are removed and a second queen is given.

Yes, there's a pattern here. Just one side of the story.

 

[rolande]

A colony preparing to swarm long before a large *and* diverse drone population can be expected to be ready in time for the the new queen.

 

[Erichalfbee]

"Sometimes it is in the colonies best interest to remove any Queen cells."

Ignoring the grammatical error, discuss?

James

Yes, if re-queening

 

[JamezF]

Yes, if re-queening

That's one I think I'd probably put down to being in the beekeeper's interest, though I guess ultimately it depends on why you're re-queening.

James

 

[Erichalfbee]

That's one I think I'd probably put down to being in the beekeeper's interest, though I guess ultimately it depends on why you're re-queening.

James

What reasons did the article give, James?

 

[Ian123]

There’s plenty of reasons to destroy queen cells if needed, as above what was the angle or theory behind the statement. A little context would help.

 

[JamezF]

There is no significant context The post is just a photo of a sealed queen cell that has been removed from the comb and cut open, with the text:

"Queen bee in the pupa stage.
Sometimes it is in the colonies best interest to remove any Queen cells."

James

 

[Wilco]

With the exception of @rolande, I'd argue everything else suggested thus far is for the benefit of the beekeeper not the colony.

 

[Ian123]

As above I’d suggest no benefit to the bees in removing queen cells. It’s natural for them to want to reproduce. If they are queenless they’ll want a new 1, if she’s failing they’ll know before the beekeeper.

 

[Moobee]

The only reason I could think of would be to make sure you didn’t have a few emerging queens fighting and potentially the survivor being damaged.

 

[Erichalfbee]

The only reason I could think of would be to make sure you didn’t have a few emerging queens fighting and potentially the survivor being damaged.

But do they fight?
I thought there was research to show the bees did it mostly.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

The only reason I could think of would be to make sure you didn’t have a few emerging queens fighting and potentially the survivor being damaged.

But do they fight?
I thought there was research to show the bees did it mostly.

The queens fighting thing has been found to be a part myth - the research shows that on the few occasions queens do fight, it's all stage managed by the workers so their chosen queen wins.
Looks like bees like spectator sports!

 

[Michael Palmer]

But do they fight?
I thought there was research to show the bees did it mostly.

A few years ago, at EAS, we staged the Battle of the Virgins. Placed two virgins in a Petri dish and let them battle. They surely did. For each battle, Zac donated one of his virgins and I one of mine. Most of the fights didn’t last long, although one lasted more than 20 minutes. In every case my virgin was victorious.
Some onlookers placed bets. The EAS education fund made $150.

 

[Ian123]

Only in the

 

[Erichalfbee]

A few years ago, at EAS, we staged the Battle of the Virgins. Placed two virgins in a Petri dish and let them battle. They surely did. For each battle, Zac donated one of his virgins and I one of mine. Most of the fights didn’t last long, although one lasted more than 20 minutes. In every case my virgin was victorious.
Some onlookers placed bets. The EAS education fund made $150.

Thankyou Michael for that.

 

[Blunt Spike]

A few years ago, at EAS, we staged the Battle of the Virgins. Placed two virgins in a Petri dish and let them battle. They surely did. For each battle, Zac donated one of his virgins and I one of mine. Most of the fights didn’t last long, although one lasted more than 20 minutes. In every case my virgin was victorious.
Some onlookers placed bets. The EAS education fund made $150.

I once spent 2 hours watching a rat and a hedgehog fight in a pub carpark.

I stayed until the end as I needed to see who would win. It was a thrilling closely matched affair, with each gaining the upper hand at various moments.

Eventually the hedgehog won on points.

 

[Erichalfbee]

******

 

[Moobee]

The queens fighting thing has been found to be a part myth - the research shows that on the few occasions queens do fight, it's all stage managed by the workers so their chosen queen wins.
Looks like bees like spectator sports!

Hunger Games for bees!