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?




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