Why Honey Bees Overthrow Their Queen
UBC research shows how queen viral infections disrupt colony stability— and identifies a key pheromone that could help maintain cohesive, productive hives.
A once-powerful monarch, weakened by illness, is overthrown by her previously loyal subjects, sounds like the plot of a medieval historical drama, but in honey bee colonies high-stakes coups aren’t just fantasy — they’re a common occurrence.
Known as supersedure, the process occurs when the tens of thousands of worker bees in a colony sense their queen is no longer laying enough eggs and coordinate to replace her with a new, healthier queen.
- Supersedure helps wild colonies adapt
- Can spell trouble for managed hives, leading to gaps in egg-laying, weaker colony populations and ultimately less pollinating and honey production
it can spell trouble for managed hives, leading to gaps in egg-laying, weaker colony populations and ultimately less pollinating and honey production.
Author summary: Honey bees overthrow their queen due to viral infections.
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