Hi Mike & Joe

> >  Is there a particular time of the year these
> >supersedure colonies are more prone to supersede?
>
> I think it happens all the time, but maybe you notice it later in the
> season, after the fact? Are you finding multiple queens in these
> superceded colonies?

It can and does happen at any time, but there is some sort of link between
late supersedure and multiple queens... Those colonies that exhibit
queenright supersedure can do this very late in the season and such colonies
are usually ones that produce a round of drones very late as well, thus
reinforcing the trait, if it is selected for.

I have sometimes wondered, but never seen any direct proof that in late
queenright supersedure the younger of the two queens lays drones (or a large
proportion of drones) and it is these that are the ones found in winter
clusters. They would certainly be a few left early the next season, but I
also am unsure of how viable such over wintered drones would be.


Regards & Best 73s, Dave Cushman, G8MZY
http://website.lineone.net/~dave.cushman or http://www.dave-cushman.net
Short FallBack M/c, Build 6.02/3.1 (stable)

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