Súpercedure/emergency queen cells

[Do224]

As mentioned in another thread I have a very small colony that has produced queen cells.

As these are likely supercedure/emergency cells, I was wondering if the usual advice of reducing to one cell still applies? Or would you just leave them to it in these circumstances…

 

[Antipodes]

As mentioned in another thread I have a very small colony that has produced queen cells.

As these are likely supercedure/emergency cells, I was wondering if the usual advice of reducing to one cell still applies? Or would you just leave them to it in these circumstances…

I think you have done the right thing. Some report no issues leaving more than one cell but I strike trouble if I do that with little swarms issuing. Keeping that cell alive (if it didn't cool off too much already whilst you were thinning the queen cells) can be an issue so I would leave them alone for the moment. It's an average of around 10 and half days from emergence to egg laying starting. Pollen can still come in without a queen of course, but if you look at the entrance around the expected egg laying timeline I've mentioned (you'll need to calculate when the queen should emerge), you may see a noticeable increase in pollen coming in coinciding with the queen starting to lay.

 

[Michael Palmer]

As these are likely supercedure/emergency cells,

Are they supercedure or emergency? The two are different, created by the bees for different reasons.

 

[Antipodes]

In relation to my response in post #2 here, I'm assuming emergency cells because of details given in the other thread.

 

[ericbeaumont]

wondering if the usual advice of reducing to one cell still applies?

Not necessary.

Reducing to one QC aims to prevent loss of a swarm. The impetus of this small colony is to replace the queen, not swarm.

Yes, 6 QCs suggests emergency, but what happened to the resident queen remains a mystery.

 

[Do224]

Are they supercedure or emergency? The two are different, created by the bees for different reasons.

I’m not sure which. I couldn’t find the queen but she may be there. I presume the difference between the two would be emergency (queen gone) and supercedure (queen still there)?

 

[Do224]

Not necessary.

Reducing to one QC aims to prevent loss of a swarm. The impetus of this small colony is to replace the queen, not swarm.

Yes, 6 QCs suggests emergency, but what happened to the resident queen remains a mystery.

I think they may well produce more queen cells as there are still young larvae present and possibly eggs. I’m not sure if I should take them down or leave them…

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Whether they're emergency cells or supersedure, it's alway better to err on the side of caution and reduce to one good cell

 

[Do224]

Whether they're emergency cells or supersedure, it's alway better to err on the side of caution and reduce to one good cell

Thanks . I’m a bit worried about the mention of chilling the cell…I did have it out of the hive for a little while as I was trying to get my head around what was going on. It was an open cell too so the larvae was exposed. Is chilling a big problem at this time of year?

 

[Michael Palmer]

I’m not sure which. I couldn’t find the queen but she may be there. I presume the difference between the two would be emergency (queen gone) and supercedure (queen still there)?

Not always. Emergency cells are located at the edges of the sealed brood pattern...where the youngest larvae were when the queen was lost. When you find the E cells that brood and the cells will be capped.

 

[Ian123]

Thanks . I’m a bit worried about the mention of chilling the cell…I did have it out of the hive for a little while as I was trying to get my head around what was going on. It was an open cell too so the larvae was exposed. Is chilling a big problem at this time of year?

I would very much doubt you chilled the cell.