What are queen cells a sign of in a bee colony?

Queen cells are an indication that a bee colony is preparing for swarming. When bees decide to swarm, it is a method of reproduction for the colony, where a new queen will take over and the old queen will leave with a portion of the worker bees. The presence of queen cells typically signifies that the colony is in the process of rearing new queens, which can occur when the colony feels crowded or when environmental conditions are right for swarming.

Swarming is a natural cycle in bee behavior that allows for the growth and spreading of the colony, and the construction of queen cells is a crucial part of this process. As the bees recognize the need for a new queen or prepare to split their population, they will begin constructing these specially shaped cells.

In contrast, food scarcity usually results in other behaviors such as foraging and rationing of resources rather than the creation of queen cells. Increased nectar flow could encourage growth and reproduction, but it does not directly signify the intention to swarm. A decline in population might lead to a need for requeening due to the loss of workers, but it would not typically result in an abundance of queen cells as the colony would be in survival mode rather than in preparation for swarming. Thus, the correct