The queen bee is the reproductive center of a honey bee colony, laying all the fertilized eggs necessary for the hive’s survival and growth. This continuous egg-laying produces all the worker and drone bees, ensuring population stability. Without a robust queen, a colony will quickly decline and perish, becoming “queenless.” Beekeepers often need to introduce new genetics or replace a failing individual. Queens are routinely bred, bought, and shipped across the country as a standard practice in modern apiculture.
Management Reasons for Requeening
Beekeepers frequently purchase a new queen to resolve specific performance issues within an established colony. A common motivator is replacing an aging queen whose egg-laying rate has slowed, leading to a noticeable decline in the hive’s population and overall vigor. Queens naturally produce less pheromone as they age, and this reduced chemical signal can sometimes prompt the worker bees to initiate their own replacement process. A failing queen might also exhibit a poor or spotty brood pattern, indicating a decline in reproductive health.
Another reason for requeening involves improving the colony’s genetic traits to better suit the beekeeper’s goals or local climate. Selective breeding allows the introduction of desirable characteristics, such as resistance to pests like the Varroa mite or a gentler temperament for easier hive inspections. Purchasing a queen is also the simplest method for rapidly expanding an operation, as a new mated queen is needed to establish a nucleus colony or a package of bees. In emergency situations, such as when a queen is accidentally injured or killed during an inspection, a quick replacement prevents the entire colony from collapsing due to sudden queenlessness.
Sourcing and Selecting a Queen
After deciding to requeen, the beekeeper must choose a reliable source for the new stock. Many prefer local apiaries or breeders because these queens are often acclimated to the regional climate and forage conditions. Purchasing locally also minimizes transport stress, potentially leading to better acceptance rates upon introduction. Alternatively, commercial online suppliers offer queens that can be shipped directly, providing access to specialized genetic lines not available nearby.
Selecting the right genetic stock is guided by the beekeeper’s priorities for the colony. Different strains of Apis mellifera, the Western honey bee, possess distinct characteristics. For example, Italian queens are known for prolific laying, while Carniolan queens are favored for their wintering ability and rapid spring build-up. Beekeepers focused on pest management might select hygienic strains, which remove diseased or mite-infested pupae to limit parasite spread. Nearly all queens purchased for hive management are already mated.
Shipping and Arrival Logistics
Transporting a live queen requires specialized packaging to ensure her survival during transit. Queens are typically shipped within a small, protective mailing cage made from wood, plastic, or wire mesh. The queen is accompanied by several worker bees, known as attendants, who feed and groom her throughout the journey. This entourage provides the necessary social structure and care to keep the queen healthy until arrival.
A crucial component of the mailing cage is the candy plug, a solid block of sugar paste. This plug serves two purposes: it provides a slow-release food source during shipping, and it blocks the exit hole upon arrival. The recipient colony’s workers must slowly chew through the plug over 24 to 72 hours. This calculated delay allows the hive to gradually become accustomed to the new queen’s pheromones before her physical release. If immediate introduction is not possible, the beekeeper must keep the cage in a cool, dark place and may offer a drop of water brushed onto the mesh to maintain the health of the occupants.
Successfully Introducing the New Queen
Successfully introducing the purchased queen is the most delicate phase of requeening, requiring careful timing and preparation. The first step involves locating and removing the old, failing queen, as the colony will not accept a replacement while the former is present. After the old queen is removed, the colony should be left queenless for a minimum of 24 hours. This waiting period increases the workers’ motivation to accept a replacement due to the sudden and complete absence of reproductive pheromones.
Once the colony senses its queenless status, the new queen in her cage can be introduced. The cage should be suspended or wedged between two central frames of brood. It is paramount that the protective cork or tab covering the candy plug is removed so the exit is accessible to the worker bees. The slow-release method, facilitated by the candy plug, allows the worker bees to slowly chew their way toward the new queen. This extended exposure time allows the hive’s population to adjust to her specific pheromonal profile, significantly reducing the likelihood of aggression.
A smooth release is indicated when worker bees are observed feeding the caged queen and her attendants without signs of biting or frantic behavior. After approximately three to five days, the beekeeper should conduct a brief inspection to confirm the queen has been released and is moving actively on the comb. Final confirmation of successful requeening is achieved by observing a new, tight, and consistent pattern of fresh eggs and young larvae laid directly by the new queen. If the bees exhibit “balling”—where a cluster of workers aggressively surrounds the cage or the released queen—it is a clear sign of rejection, and the queen may need to be re-caged immediately for a second attempt.