Queen Bee Swarm Cell How to Identify and Understand Queen Cells in Your Hive

Recognizing Swarm, Supersedure, and Emergency Queen Cells
From the beekeeping team at ReynWicks

At ReynWicks, we know how exciting and overwhelming it can be to spot large, peanut-shaped cells during a hive inspection. These are queen cells, often referred to as Swarm Cell Peanuts due to their distinctive appearance. More than just a curiosity, these cells reveal your colony’s next move—whether they’re preparing to swarm, replace their queen, or recover from a crisis.

In this guide, we’ll help you understand what queen cells are, how to identify them, and what the three main types mean for your beekeeping strategy.

🔍 What Are Queen Cells?

Queen cells—also called queen cups or Swarm Cell Peanuts—are special wax structures where a colony raises new queen bees. Their elongated, vertical, and peanut-shaped design makes them easy to recognize, even for beginner beekeepers.

These cells play a vital role in colony survival and growth. Learning to identify and interpret queen cells is a foundational skill in beekeeping, especially here at ReynWicks, where we prioritize hive health and natural behaviors.

🧭 The 3 Types of Queen Cells (and What They Mean)

Understanding the purpose behind each queen cell helps you manage your hive effectively. Here are the three types you’ll encounter:

1. 🐝 Swarm Cells

Purpose: These cells signal the colony’s intent to reproduce and swarm.

Location: Usually found at the bottom edges of brood frames.
Appearance: Often multiple cells appear at once, evenly spaced.
When to Expect: Most common in spring and early summer, when colonies are strong and the nectar flow is high.
What to Do: If your bees are preparing to swarm, you can take proactive steps like splitting the hive, adding more space, or removing excess queen cells.

At ReynWicks, we carefully monitor swarm cells to prevent overcrowding and maintain productive hives.

2. 👑 Supersedure Cells

Purpose: Built when the bees want to replace a failing or aging queen.

Location: Typically located in the center of the brood frame, not the edges.
Appearance: Fewer in number—usually just one or two cells.
When to Expect: Anytime the queen’s pheromone levels drop or her egg-laying slows.
What to Do: Supersedure is a natural part of hive management. In most cases, let the bees carry out the process unless the colony shows signs of distress.

At ReynWicks, we allow supersedure cells to develop naturally, promoting strong genetics and colony resilience.

3. 🚨 Emergency Queen Cells

Purpose: Created when the colony suddenly loses its queen.

Location: Found on multiple frames and scattered randomly across brood cells.
Appearance: Built quickly, sometimes modifying existing worker cells.
When to Expect: Immediately after a queen dies or disappears.
What to Do: Check for eggs and larvae to ensure the colony has the resources to raise a new queen. If not, consider introducing a new queen or merging with another hive.

At ReynWicks, we always keep a spare mated queen or nuc on hand—just in case.

🥜 How to Identify Queen Bee Swarm Cell Peanuts

Now that you know the types, here’s how to recognize queen cells—especially Swarm Cell Peanuts—during inspections:

🧩 Shape:

Elongated, oval, and peanut-shaped
2–3 times larger than worker bee cells

📍 Location:

Swarm Cells: Bottom edges of frames
Supersedure Cells: Center of brood nest
Emergency Cells: Randomly across the brood area

🛠️ Construction:

Made of beeswax
Often aligned vertically
Clearly distinct from other cell types

🎨 Color:

New queen cells appear white or tan
Older ones darken with age and larval development

🐣 Development:

Look for a curled, white larva at the bottom
Capped cells signal the queen is nearly ready to emerge

🐝 Final Thoughts from ReynWicks

At ReynWicks on Little Creek Farm, we encourage every beekeeper to become fluent in the language of the hive—and queen cells are one of its clearest signals. Whether your bees are swarming, replacing a queen, or responding to an emergency, knowing how to read these signs empowers you to make confident, informed decisions.

Swarm Cell aren’t just interesting—they’re a key to understanding the future of your colony.

To purchase Queen cell or queen rearing equipment – click here

To learn more about beekeeping – click here