Both the queen and the developing larvae release pheromones (chemical signals) which inhibit new queen rearing and supercedure. In colonies with healthy, laying queens and sufficient brood, workers should only try to rear new queens if the colony becomes crowded and the bees prepare for swarming. If the queen is failing or poorly mated, her egg-production (and therefore the amount of brood pheromone) is reduced and her pheromone profiles are likely to change, thus causing the workers to begin rearing new queens.
- Christina Grozinger, Pennsylvania State University
