super cede cells

[don2]

Wanted to ask this before I come across it. If I am on a roue-teen check and come across a supersede cell and it was already capped. If the old queen is still there would it be safe to remove her at this time? d2     

[drjeseuss]

So long as you don't disrupt or damage the supercedure cell, I'd thing removing the queen now would be fine.  You may see a gap in brood depending on age of the cell, and from the mating time for before the virgin lays, but the overall colony health should recover quickly from the vigor of the new queen.  This said, I'd keep the old queen in a nuc somewhere safe in case you need her back due to a failure of the new queen (birdfood, etc).

[Michael Bush]

>if the old queen is still there would it be safe to remove her at this time?

Why remove her?

[don2]

Guess I was just thunking out of the box.   lol!  d2

[BeeMaster2]

There is a reason the bees are superseding but one of the great thing about it is that you have mom laying while your new queen is developing, strengthening, mating and then the 2 queens are laying side by side, sometimes for a month or more. This helps the hive rebound very quickly. I would never remove the old queen from a supercedure.
Is it the only one in the hive?
I have a serious problem with new queens not making it back from their maiden flights due to dragonflies. What happens if the new queen does not survive and you removed the old queen?
Jim

[drjeseuss]

I think it would help to understand if removed means eliminate or relocate.

[BeeMaster2]

I think it would help to understand if removed means eliminate or relocate.

As I said, I would not remove it from the hive. The hive is much better off with her in it it.
Jim

[don2]

I do not have this situation at this time. I just thought about it and wanted info for future reference. Thanks all for responding. d2


sawdstmakr, I was meaning relocate.