Supersedure in Honey Bees

LONG-LIVED SUPERSEDURE STRAINS

by Micheál Mac Giolla Coda (1997)

If you have a queen of two or three or more years standing, still laying vigorously and her colony has never attempted to raise swarm-cells during her long life, you may have a treasure. She is worthy of careful observation from here on in.

If in the Spring, early Summer, late Summer or Autumn you suddenly find between one and five even-aged queen cells built on the face of the brood combs of this colony, you may very well have a treasure rare, i.e. a supersedure strain. Should you subsequently examine your colony and find therein your old queen still laying while on an adjacent frame you find her daughter queen also laying; then you surely have a pearl of great price. For this is supersedure at its very best and this is a strain which is well worthy of future propagation.