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 superceded colonies?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) -- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l for rules, FAQ and other info ---