>Somehow the bees in the colony are able to differentiate between queens that are about to swarm and those that are to be superceded, and apparently their reaction to them is different.

Certainly swarming is a very complicated behavior and there is a great deal we don't know and should study. What is normal or at least successful is probably the best place to look. That is all I am saying. As to the above quote my first thought is that one (superceded) is probably still laying at least a little and the other (swarm) has been thinning down to flight weight and in my observation not been laying for a few days.

I too have seen queens being "encouraged" to leave apparently against their will. I have also seen queens among the crowd taking flight enthusiastically.  For the reluctant one it could be that not all were on the same page as to the plan or were at different places on the schedule ??? 

For me as a honey producer that runs large colonies usually not split in spring I would say that after varroa swarming is my greatest challenge and welcome any discussion of the subject.

Paul Hosticka
Dayton WA

             ***********************************************
The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software.  For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html