How Do Bees Make Queen Cells?
Q: How do bees make queen cells?
A: Bees make queen cells by enlarging standard wax comb cells into large, vertical, peanut-shaped structures. These are built using beeswax and are located along the edges or bottom of the comb. Once built, nurse bees feed selected larvae with royal jelly, triggering queen development. Queen cells are created when a colony needs to replace or reproduce a queen.
What Are Queen Cells?
Queen cells are specialised wax structures made by worker bees to rear new queens. Unlike standard hexagonal comb cells, queen cells are:
- Larger
- Vertical (hanging downward)
- Shaped like a peanut shell
- Located at the edges or bottom of brood comb
Each queen cell houses a single larva, fed an exclusive diet of royal jelly until it pupates and emerges as a new queen.
Why Do Bees Make Queen Cells?
Queen cells are produced in three main situations:
| Type | Reason |
|---|---|
| Swarm Cells | The colony is strong and preparing to split, reproducing the hive |
| Supersedure Cells | The current queen is failing or aged; the colony replaces her |
| Emergency Cells | The queen dies suddenly or disappears, triggering urgent queen rearing |
The presence, number, and location of queen cells indicate the colony’s reproductive status and internal health.
Step-by-Step: How Bees Make Queen Cells
1. Colony Detects Need for a New Queen
Triggers include:
- Overcrowding
- Decreased queen pheromone levels
- Queen injury or death
- Preparation for swarming
Worker bees begin by selecting a suitable larva (less than 3 days old).
2. Modification or Construction of Queen Cell
Depending on the situation:
- Emergency queen cells are built by enlarging existing worker brood cells.
- Swarm and supersedure queen cells are constructed from scratch using fresh wax.
- Bees secrete beeswax from their abdominal glands, then chew and shape it into the unique, rounded queen cell.
These cells are usually built along the bottom bar or edges of the comb, but emergency cells may appear anywhere brood is present.
3. Feeding the Larva with Royal Jelly
Once the queen cell is prepared:
- A fertilised egg or young larva is placed (or already exists) inside.
- Nurse bees flood the cell with copious amounts of royal jelly.
- The larva continues to receive only royal jelly throughout development, unlike worker larvae who switch to bee bread after 3 days.
4. Sealing the Cell
Around day 5, the larva spins a cocoon and enters the pupal stage. The bees:
- Cap the queen cell with porous beeswax
- Continue to regulate temperature and hive conditions carefully
The developing queen remains sealed inside for approximately 7–8 more days.
5. Emergence of a New Queen
At around day 16, the new queen:
- Chews her way out of the cell
- Emerges and begins searching for rival queens
If multiple queens have developed:
- The first to emerge may kill rival queens in their cells
- Occasionally, queens fight to the death for hive dominance
The surviving queen will then:
- Take a nuptial flight
- Mate with multiple drones
- Return to the hive and begin laying eggs
Queen Cells on Comb
Note the large, vertical structure of queen cells compared to flat hexagonal brood cells. These were built during swarm preparation.
Timeline of Queen Cell Development
| Day | Stage |
|---|---|
| Day 0 | Egg laid in queen cell or existing cell enlarged |
| Day 3 | Hatched larva begins feeding on royal jelly |
| Day 5 | Larva fully grown, cell capped |
| Day 8 | Pupa transformation |
| Day 16 | Queen emerges |
This development is faster than that of workers (21 days) or drones (24 days).
What Happens After Multiple Queens Hatch?
When more than one queen emerges:
- A battle may occur to determine dominance
- In swarming cases, a virgin queen may leave with a swarm before fighting
- Worker bees sometimes restrain extra queens to allow for future hive division
Some beekeepers intervene at this point to prevent the hive from losing too many bees through swarming.
Do Queen Cells Always Result in a New Queen?
No. Several outcomes are possible:
| Outcome | Reason |
|---|---|
| Successful emergence | Healthy queen hatches and mates |
| Cell destruction | Workers or rival queens destroy cells |
| Supercedure failure | Colony fails to accept or recognise new queen |
| Emergency delay | No suitable larvae, causing a delay in requeening |
Poor weather, disease, or beekeeper interference can all affect the outcome.
Queen Cell vs Queen Cup
| Feature | Queen Cell | Queen Cup |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Active queen rearing | Preliminary structure (may or may not be used) |
| Size | Large, elongated | Small, cup-shaped |
| Contents | Larva + royal jelly | Usually empty |
| Bee response | Capped and protected | Built and ignored unless needed |
Queen cups are like “placeholders” — bees often build them just in case. Their presence alone does not mean swarming is underway.
Do Beekeepers Use Queen Cells?
Yes. Beekeepers can:
- Graft larvae into artificial queen cups to raise new queens
- Transfer capped queen cells to other hives needing queens
- Use swarm cells to create nucleus colonies (nucs)
However, disrupting queen cells without understanding the hive’s reproductive state can result in queenlessness.
How Bees Make Queens Cells FAQ
Q: How many queen cells can bees make?
A: A colony may build 1 to 20+ queen cells depending on the situation.
Q: Where are queen cells located in the hive?
A: Typically on the bottom or sides of brood frames; emergency cells can be anywhere.
Q: Can a worker bee become a queen?
A: No. Only larvae less than 3 days old, fed only royal jelly, can develop into queens.
Q: What do bees do with old queen cells?
A: After use, queen cells are usually torn down by workers.
Q: Can multiple queens live together?
A: Rarely. Usually, only one queen remains after emergence. In swarm preparations, multiple virgin queens may exist briefly.
Why Queen Cells Matter in the Hive
Queen cells are the starting point of colony renewal. They determine:
- Hive reproduction and expansion
- Genetic diversity
- Worker morale and pheromone balance
Understanding queen cell development helps beekeepers:
- Predict swarming
- Replace failing queens
- Support hive continuity
Queen rearing is both a natural instinct and a practical method of survival — without queen cells, there is no next generation.
Queen cell production is a critical feature in South African beekeeping, especially when managing the cape bee’s tendency for thelytoky – a rare reproductive trait where workers can produce female offspring, affecting colony dynamics and queen replacement strategies.
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