There has been a number of posts regarding emergency queen cells recently and IMO the discussion became clouded with other references to swarm cells. Not the same thing at all. So with the indulgence of our senior members I would like to attempt to clarify the matter. Lets us consider two areas. The first one deals with a hive, quite happy with the queen, no superscedure intended, space to grow etc well ventilated, in other words a normal hive. Suddenly, unexpectedly the queen disappears, or is squashed, or it might be the hive is split to make increase. Panic reigns, the bees are queenless, the hive is is in decline. Almost instantly 'emergency' cells are started, often on larvae too old to produce a full queen, but acceptable to lay eggs, if only a few. Often very small and lacking the strength and pheremones to maintain a full sized hive, causing more problems. Remember the first out gets the rest, even if she's a runt.But the bees will achieve what they need, a queen in a hurry. Then after a few days or even weeks a superscedure cell will be started. The second area. A hive, over crowded, under ventilated, an aging queen, and a keeper not aware of what is happening,decides it's time to increase, and so starts cell production. There will be plenty of eggs and larvae to choose from, lots of food and young bees to feed those cells, normally at a time when there are plenty of drones for mating. These are not 'emergency' cells and will produce well made queens, large body size, full compliment of all that's necessary. Two different scenarios, producing, in one case acceptable queens but the other only producing a temporay solution. Comments? ***************************************** The Bee Works, 9 Progress Drive, Unit 2, Orillia, Ontario, Canada.L3V 6H1. Phone (705)326 7171 Fax (705)325 3461 David Eyre, Owner e-mail<[log in to unmask]> http://www.beeworks.com This months special:-Therapik, soothing aid for stings. ****************************************