Silent Supersedure
Lexikon
The queen changeover without swarming and without any intervention by the beekeeper.
The queen changeover without swarming and without any intervention by the beekeeper. The colony rears one to a few queen cells even though the old queen is still laying.
The trigger is usually a failing queen: too little queen substance, a patchy brood pattern, advanced age or an injury. The young queen takes over, and the old one is gradually pushed aside. This changeover can only succeed at a time of year when drones are available for mating.
Silent supersedure is desirable and should not be disturbed. Anyone who breaks the cells takes away the colony's ability to help itself.