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> Queens typically live for about four or five years This figure is from an old study that others have repeatedly failed to reproduce. More recent attempts to
by flatline 12y ago
> Queens typically live for about four or five years
This figure is from an old study that others have repeatedly failed to reproduce. More recent attempts to determine queen longevity have shown they live to an average of about a year, and furthermore failed to find any of significantly advanced age. So it shouldn't too much of a surprise that she only lasted a season. Since there seem to be a few beekeepers hanging out here, I'd be curious to hear anecdotal evidence of queen lifespan.
- xanderstrike 12y agoMy uncle ran a hive for about four years on a single queen. He had a name for it and everything (Betty or Beatrice or something else typically reserved for cows). When the queen finally did die, he said it was a really bad time of year for that to happen and the hive never recovered. That was the end of his beekeeping adventure. I still miss the honey he'd bring by when I was a kid.
- Qworg 12y agoI ha a three year queen before. Most start to flag around year two and need to be replaced. I've heard anecdotes from other beeks having four to five year queens, but it is exceedingly rare. The big players don't want the production drop that comes with old queens.