What are common signs that indicate a queen bee may be failing?

A queen bee may be failing when there is reduced egg laying and irregular brood patterns. A healthy queen is typically productive, laying a steady number of eggs daily and maintaining a consistent brood pattern, which is essential for the colony's growth and health. When a queen is failing, her egg-laying ability diminishes, often leading to fewer eggs being laid and an erratic brood pattern. This can exhibit as patches of empty cells or an unbalanced distribution of larvae and pupae, which can ultimately threaten the colony's sustainability.

Increased honey production does not correlate with a failing queen; on the contrary, a productive queen is typically part of a thriving colony that may produce more honey. Higher temperatures in the hive can result from various factors including environmental conditions or colony behavior but do not serve as a direct indicator of queen health. Similarly, increased worker bee activity may indicate different dynamics within the hive but is not a reliable sign of a queen’s condition.