What Happens If a Beehive Has 2 Queens?
Having two queen bees within a single hive is an unusual and often temporary situation in the fascinating world of apiculture. Typically, a healthy honey bee colony functions with only one queen, who is solely responsible for laying eggs and maintaining the hive’s social order through pheromones. However, several scenarios can lead to the presence of multiple queens, creating a complex dynamic that the bees themselves must resolve. Generally, when two queens are present, it will lead to one of three outcomes: the workers will kill the old queen, the queens will fight to the death, or the hive will swarm. These scenarios are driven by a combination of biological imperatives and colony needs, making the process both ruthless and crucial for the hive’s survival.
The Battle for Supremacy
Virgin Queen Combat
One of the most dramatic situations involving two queens arises when two virgin queens emerge simultaneously. These young, unmated queens will not coexist; instead, they engage in a brutal fight to the death. This is not a random act of aggression, but rather a biological necessity. The first queen to kill the other establishes her dominance and becomes the sole queen of the hive. The victor will then attend a mating flight, usually at a drone congregation site, before returning to the hive to begin her egg-laying duties.
Established Queen Dynamics
The situation differs slightly when an older, established queen is involved. If a new queen emerges while the old one is still alive, the worker bees play a key role in determining the outcome. Often, the workers will kill the old queen to pave the way for the new one, especially if the old queen’s pheromone production is waning or if the colony perceives her as no longer being optimal. Another less common but still possible scenario is that the two queens will fight, similar to virgin queens. The last possibility is the hive could swarm and the old queen and a part of the population will leave to start a new hive. Swarming is the colony’s natural mechanism to prevent an overcrowding situation or to allow for an old queen to continue to lead a hive.
Supersedure
In some cases, a second queen’s presence is the result of a planned supersedure. This process occurs when the existing queen starts to decline in her ability to lay eggs or her pheromone production is diminished, indicating that she is failing. When this occurs, the colony prepares for the new queen by raising a new one. After the new queen is prepared the workers will often kill the old queen, though there are reports of supersedure occurring successfully where both queens live for a short period.
Why Two Queens at All?
While the presence of two queens is generally transient, it can sometimes be observed under specific circumstances. During the swarming period, for instance, a colony might temporarily house a new queen alongside the old one until the swarm departs with the older queen to establish a new home. This short period allows both queens to exist briefly within a colony.
The Illusion of Two-Queen Colonies
From a beekeeping perspective, the idea of a hive with two actively laying queens is alluring. The main appeal is the potential for increased honey production. Theoretically, with two queens laying simultaneously, a colony could reach populations exceeding 100,000 bees, significantly higher than the typical 60,000 bees in a single-queen colony. While this might work in controlled research settings for a short period, such setups are difficult to maintain in the real world.
The Reality of One Queen
In reality, a healthy hive functions with a strict hierarchical structure centered around a single queen. Her presence is essential to the social cohesion and fertility of the colony. The colony will always resolve multiple queens down to one, because having one queen is essential for the health of the hive. Any attempts to artificially maintain two-queen hives often prove to be temporary and require specialized management techniques.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Multiple Queen Bees
Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further explore the intriguing topic of multiple queen bees in a hive:
How does a colony decide who will be the queen?
Nurse bees select 10 to 20 newly hatched female larvae and begin feeding them a strict diet of royal jelly. This exclusive diet triggers the larva’s reproductive system, transforming her into a queen. The first queen to hatch and survive is the new queen of the hive.
How long does it take a queenless hive to raise a new queen?
It takes a minimum of 15 days for bees to raise a new queen from brood, and an additional 5 days for her to mate and start laying eggs. This makes the entire process last at least 20 days. Introducing a new queen from elsewhere will be faster than allowing the hive to create a new queen.
Can a beekeeper combine two hives with queens?
Yes, but you must dispatch the queen in one of the hives before combining. The stronger hive should be kept on the bottom with the weaker hive placed above, using the strong hive’s original location.
Why might a hive reject a new queen?
Older worker bees can see a new queen as an intruder, especially if they are unfamiliar with her pheromones. This is most common when a beekeeper physically introduces a new queen.
What happens when two queens hatch at the same time?
They will fight to the death. The surviving queen is the new ruler of the hive.
What is the lifespan of a queen bee?
Queens live on average 1-2 years, though in some cases may live up to 8 years.
What happens to old queens?
Old queens are typically superseded, a process where the workers replace her with a younger queen. The old queen is usually killed after the supersedure is complete.
Can you move brood from one hive to another?
Yes, beekeepers often move frames of brood to boost weak colonies or to reduce the strength of strong colonies to prevent swarming.
What are the signs of a queenless hive?
Signs of a queenless hive include: a drop in population, missing brood and eggs, pollen and honey stores where brood should be, the presence of queen cells, more than one egg in a cell, and a large number of drones. A queenless hive can also be more aggressive and have a higher pitched sound.
Will a queenless hive be aggressive?
Yes, queenless hives may become more defensive and protective as they work to raise a new queen.
Can a queen bee sting a human?
It’s rare for a queen bee to sting a human, and when they do it’s often not as painful as a worker bee sting. Queens typically do not leave the hive except to mate.
How long can a hive survive without a queen?
A hive will not survive more than a couple of months without a queen. The adults will die without replacements, and the brood will only continue to develop until the existing larvae have become adult bees.
How long after a queen hatches does she start to lay eggs?
It takes a minimum of 23-25 days for a queen to go from egg to a mated and laying queen.
Will bees leave a hive without a queen?
A hive must have a queen to survive. Without a queen, the colony will eventually perish as there is no new brood to replace the dying bees.
Can a bee colony make a new queen?
Yes. If the colony loses its queen, they will modify worker cells containing larvae to become queen cells and raise new queens from these.
Understanding the dynamics surrounding multiple queens in a beehive is essential for any beekeeper. While the prospect of a two-queen colony might seem beneficial, the bees themselves ensure that only one queen presides over the hive, maintaining a balance crucial for their survival and prosperity.