What To Do When You Spot Queen Cells: Swarm Prevention for Smart Beekeeping
May 13, 2025
As the weather warms and colonies kick into high gear, it's swarm season across much of the U.S. For beekeepers, one of the most heart-sinking sights during a hive inspection is the unmistakable presence of queen cells. These elongated, peanut-shaped cells often signal one thing: your bees are getting ready to swarm.
But don’t panic. With the right knowledge and a cool head, you can keep your bees safely at home and productive. Here’s how to respond when you see queen cells in your hive.
What Are Queen Cells and Why Are They There?
Queen cells are specially constructed cells where new queens are raised. You may see four types:
- Swarm cells – Usually along the bottom edges of frames. These indicate the colony is preparing to swarm.
- Supersedure cells – One or two cells found more centrally on the frame, these are used to replace an aging or failing queen.
- Emergency cells – Built quickly on the face of the comb when the queen is suddenly lost.
- Queen cups – Small, cup-like structures often built as a precaution during swarm season. They’re typically empty but may be used if needed to raise a queen.
Queen cells - your bees' signal that they're planning a mass exodus.
It's very important to identify the difference between swarm cells and other queen cells
Swarm Cells:
- Usually found on the bottom edge of frames.
- Appear when the colony is strong and preparing to swarm.
- Multiple cells are often present at once generally at least 7 up to 20+
Supersedure Cells:
- Found in the middle of the frame, on the face of the comb.
- Usually just one or two are built.
- Colony is replacing the queen due to age, poor performance, or injury.
Emergency Cells:
- Generally built on face of comb not on bottom.
- Generally built on cells that are around very young larvae.
- Triggered by sudden loss of the queen (e.g., squashed or failed).
- Typically look rough and hastily made.
Queen cups
- These are not an indication that a colony is going to swarm but tend to be made around swarming season
- Always check to see if there is an egg or larvae in the cell
- If nothing in the cell don't worry about them
- If egg or larvae in the cell treat as swarm cells
Why Bees Swarm
Swarming is a natural reproductive process. The colony raises a new queen while the old one leaves with a large portion of the workers to start a new hive. Common triggers include:
- Congested brood nests
- Limited space
- High bee population
- Strong nectar flow
How to Respond When You See Queen Cells
Your actions will depend on the stage of the queen cells:
1. Eggs or Larvae in Queen Cells (early stage)
You need to take action straight away to prevent loosing your colony. The most common way is an artificial swarm. Here's a step-by-step approach on how to do that:
2. Capped Queen Cells (imminent swarm)
- Capped queen cells can mean the hive has already swarmed. Is the colony smaller than last time? Can't find the queen? If so it may be too late,
- be sure to look around trees and other high features as the swarm tends to hang about close to the hive until they decide where to go.
3. Already Swarmed?
- Check for remaining queen cells.
- Allow one queen cell to emerge.
- Don’t disturb the hive too much for the next two weeks.
Final Thoughts
Seeing queen cells isn’t a disaster - it’s an opportunity. It means your colony is strong and ready to expand. With smart management and a proactive plan, you can keep your bees productive and your apiary thriving.
Stay sharp out there and keep an eye on those queen cups!
Need help keeping your bees stress-free and productive? Check out HiveAlive Liquid and Fondant to support your colony through the season.
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