In the following, more recent work, queen supersedure was observed for 7 years:


It is commonly accepted that the age of a queen honey bee determines her performance, and bee colonies that are not requeened annually seldom produce good honey crops. However, few objective data exist to support this contention. 

Forty colonies of Apis mellifera macedonica were established in Greece with naturally-mated sister queens, two frames of sealed brood and 2 kg of bees, and requeened either every year (A), every two years (B), every three years (C), or left to replace their queens through supersedure (D). All colonies were managed in the same way during the seven-year experiment. 

During the first three years there were no significant differences in honey production between any of the groups, but group D subsequently produced significantly less honey than all other groups. There were generally no significant differences in each year's honey production between colonies in groups A, B or C, suggesting that requeening every two or three years is adequate.

Five colonies of group D became weak and died in 1988-1989, two in 1989-1990 and one in 1990-1991. The other groups did not lose any colony throughout the experiment. Averages and statistical analysis were calculated using the surviving colonies for group D. Colonies that were left to supersede their queens produced significantly less brood, less honey and had difficulty in surviving adverse conditions. 

The overall results of this research indicate that colonies with queens one or two years of age do not differ significantly in either brood or honey production. Colonies with queens three years of age produce less brood than colonies with queens aged one or two years, but not significantly less honey. 

Maria Kostarelou-Damianidou, et al (1995) 
Brood and honey production of honey bee colonies requeened at various frequencies
Journal of Apicultural Research, 34:1, 9-14

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