What Happens When Bees Lose Their Queen?

Worker bees detect the queen’s absence when her pheromones disappear.

[{"selector":"#anim-4f54b82a-dc89-49fd-9e21-51ecf917ee0a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(7.771260740825096%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Queen Loss

Workers begin preparing to raise a replacement queen.

[{"selector":"#anim-c45a3cfd-0030-4a46-b4d3-4bce6a7fbeaf [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Queen Search

Selected larvae receive royal jelly inside special queen cells.

[{"selector":"#anim-d0997cdb-a594-4ad0-add9-1d713677ffc7 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, -0.00004357092140594432%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Queen Cells

A new queen emerges and eventually takes control of the colony.

[{"selector":"#anim-66598339-b9b1-40a3-b7fb-3b6b92b44615 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(21.874999829338595%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] New Queen

The colony may temporarily have no new fertilised eggs.

[{"selector":"#anim-a847ecdb-fe06-401a-887a-f6691c2b8138 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(1.0658141036401503e-14%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Egg-Laying Stops

Bees can become restless and unusually noisy without their queen.

[{"selector":"#anim-c0b6d0f9-bfbf-4566-b3e0-1f2b6ef99336 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] Colony Stress

Without a replacement queen, the colony gradually becomes weaker.

[{"selector":"#anim-3c9b5b5f-8370-42ac-9fe2-fc17778526ff [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0.016983392357165852%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] Colony Decline