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| [[File:lighterstill.jpg]][[File:Supersedure.jpg|right|frame]] | | [[File:lighterstill.jpg]][[File:Supersedure.jpg|right|frame]] |
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− | *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/18th_century 1788] | + | *[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/18th_century 1788] |
| ==Definition== | | ==Definition== |
− | *1:the [[act]] or [[process]] of superseding; especially : the replacement of an old or inferior [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_bee queen bee] by a young or superior queen | + | *1:the [[act]] or [[process]] of superseding; especially : the replacement of an old or inferior [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_bee queen bee] by a young or superior queen |
| ==Description== | | ==Description== |
− | As the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_bee queen ages] her [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pheromone_(honey_bee) pheromone] output diminishes. A queen bee that [[becomes]] old, or is diseased or failing, will be replaced by the workers in a [[procedure]] known as "'''supersedure'''". | + | As the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_bee queen ages] her [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pheromone_(honey_bee) pheromone] output diminishes. A queen bee that [[becomes]] old, or is diseased or failing, will be replaced by the workers in a [[procedure]] known as "'''supersedure'''". |
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| Supersedure may be forced by a beekeeper, for example by clipping off one of the queen's middle or posterior legs. This makes her unable to properly place her eggs at the bottom of the brood cell; the workers will detect this and will then rear replacement queens. When a new queen becomes available, the workers will kill the reigning queen by "balling" her, clustering tightly around her and stinging her. Balling is often a [[problem]] for beekeepers attempting to introduce a replacement queen. | | Supersedure may be forced by a beekeeper, for example by clipping off one of the queen's middle or posterior legs. This makes her unable to properly place her eggs at the bottom of the brood cell; the workers will detect this and will then rear replacement queens. When a new queen becomes available, the workers will kill the reigning queen by "balling" her, clustering tightly around her and stinging her. Balling is often a [[problem]] for beekeepers attempting to introduce a replacement queen. |
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− | If a queen suddenly dies, the workers will flood with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_jelly royal jelly] several cells where a larva has just emerged. The young [[larva]] floats on the royal jelly; the worker bees then build a larger queen cell from the normal-sized worker cell, which will protrude vertically from the face of the brood comb. [[Emergency]] queens are usually smaller and less prolific, and therefore not preferred by beekeepers.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supercedure#Supersedure] | + | If a queen suddenly dies, the workers will flood with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_jelly royal jelly] several cells where a larva has just emerged. The young [[larva]] floats on the royal jelly; the worker bees then build a larger queen cell from the normal-sized worker cell, which will protrude vertically from the face of the brood comb. [[Emergency]] queens are usually smaller and less prolific, and therefore not preferred by beekeepers.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supercedure#Supersedure] |
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| [[Category: Biology]] | | [[Category: Biology]] |