How do beekeepers determine the need to requeen a colony?

The decision to requeen a colony is primarily based on an assessment of the queen's egg-laying pattern and the overall behavior of the colony. A healthy queen typically lays a significant number of eggs consistently, which reflects her vitality and the strength of the colony. When beekeepers observe a decrease in the queen's egg production, irregularities in the pattern of egg-laying, or signs of a failing queen such as the presence of supersedure cells or a high proportion of drone brood, it indicates that the queen may not be performing optimally.

Additionally, behaviors within the colony may signal a need for requeening. For instance, signs of aggression, lack of population growth, or poor foraging activity can all suggest issues related to the colony's queen. Evaluating both the queen's productivity and the colony's overall health provides a comprehensive view, helping beekeepers make informed decisions about whether to introduce a new queen to ensure the colony's continued success and productivity.

In contrast, regularly checking the hive’s weight may provide insights into food stores but does not directly relate to the queen's health. Monitoring the number of drones is also more indicative of mating potential rather than the queen's effectiveness or a colony's need for reque