Introducing an additional queen bee into a hive that already has a reigning queen will almost certainly result in the death of the newly introduced queen. Bee colonies are typically monogynous, meaning they are structured around a single queen.
The Immediate Reaction: A Fight for Survival
When a new queen is introduced to a hive that is already queenright (has a queen), several immediate reactions can occur, most of which are fatal to the new queen:
- Queen vs. Queen: If the new queen manages to encounter the existing queen, they will fight to the death. The stronger or more dominant queen will eliminate the other.
- Worker Bee Hostility: More commonly, the worker bees themselves will kill the intruding queen. Workers are fiercely loyal to their own queen, whose unique pheromones define the colony's identity. An unfamiliar queen is perceived as a threat or an invader.
- Balling: Worker bees will often "ball" the new queen. This involves surrounding her in a tight cluster, vibrating their bodies rapidly to generate heat, and effectively overheating or suffocating her.
Most beekeepers are well aware that a colony with a queen is likely to kill a newly introduced queen. Therefore, it's crucial never to simply drop a replacement queen into a hive without first checking its status.
Why This Happens: The Science Behind Hive Dynamics
The aggressive rejection of a new queen stems from several fundamental aspects of honey bee biology and colony organization:
The Role of Queen Pheromones
The reigning queen produces a complex blend of chemical signals called queen pheromones. These pheromones serve multiple critical functions:
- Colony Cohesion: They signal the queen's presence, health, and fertility to the entire colony, maintaining order and unity.
- Worker Bee Behavior: Pheromones suppress the workers' desire to lay eggs and inhibit the development of new queens.
- Hive Identity: The specific pheromonal signature of the queen helps the workers recognize their own colony members and identify intruders.
An introduced queen lacks the familiar pheromonal signature, triggering an alarm response in the workers.
One Queen Per Colony
A healthy honey bee colony functions as a superorganism centered around a single fertile queen. Her role is to lay eggs, ensuring the continuation of the colony. The presence of two queens disrupts this fundamental structure, leading to instability and chaos. The colony instinctively works to maintain its single-queen status.
Beekeeping Implications: Checking Hive Status is Key
Understanding this dynamic is vital for beekeepers. If you intend to introduce a new queen (e.g., to replace an old or failing queen, or to requeen a colony), you must determine the hive's queen status beforehand.
Hive Condition | Outcome for Introduced Queen | Beekeeping Action |
---|---|---|
Queenright | The new queen will most likely be killed by the existing queen or the worker bees. | It is crucial to verify the hive's queen status. Do not attempt to introduce a new queen if the hive is queenright. |
Queenless | Can be accepted, but often requires careful introduction methods. | Ensure the hive is truly queenless (no queen, no brood, or only drone brood) and receptive. Even then, gradual introduction using a queen cage is necessary for acceptance. |
Proper Queen Introduction (When Needed)
If a hive is indeed queenless and requires a new queen, beekeepers use specific, gradual introduction methods to increase the chances of acceptance. These often involve:
- Queen Cages: The new queen is typically introduced in a special cage that allows the worker bees to get accustomed to her pheromones over a few days without direct contact.
- Candy Plugs: Many cages have a candy plug at one end that the workers slowly chew through, releasing the queen gradually. This allows ample time for her scent to spread and for the colony to become accustomed to her presence.
- Observation: Beekeepers monitor the colony closely after introduction to ensure acceptance and prevent balling.
In summary, putting another queen bee into a hive that already has a queen is almost always a fatal mistake for the new queen, as the colony will perceive her as an intruder and eliminate her to protect its single-queen structure.