Just as there seems to have been less inclination to swarm this year so I have also had a higher than usual tendency to supersedure in July. Normally I would say that any colony producing normal (i.e. not emergency) queen cells in May / June / July should still be considered as potentially swarming, as I have known several colonies left to their own devices to supersede ( based on few cells being produced and towards the middle of frames rather than along the edge) actually swarming anyway and leaving me looking a right Charlie. I now ignore the "leave all alone" advice and if i am confident it really is a supersedure attempt, I will still reduce down to a single queen cell.
Critical to this is the fact all my queens are clipped so if the bees do change their mind, I don't lose the workers and in natural conditions the queen would be replaced by the emerging virgin anyway.
What do others do if they suspect supersedure is taking place?
Critical to this is the fact all my queens are clipped so if the bees do change their mind, I don't lose the workers and in natural conditions the queen would be replaced by the emerging virgin anyway.
What do others do if they suspect supersedure is taking place?