Under what circumstances are new queen bees reared?

New queen bees are reared primarily when the existing queen is failing, sick, aging, or has died. This process is a crucial part of maintaining the health and productivity of the hive. A healthy, active queen is essential for laying eggs and ensuring the hive's population and vitality. If a queen is not performing adequately due to age or illness, the colony recognizes this issue and will start the emergency or supersedure process to produce a new queen. This ensures the colony can continue to thrive by replacing the less effective queen with a healthier, younger counterpart.

In contrast, while certain conditions like overpopulation may trigger a swarming event where a new queen is raised, the direct need for a new queen in response to a failing queen is a more immediate and survival-oriented motivation. Seasonal factors, such as winter, are not conducive to raising new queens due to the colony's natural behavior and resource limitations, while abundant nectar flow does facilitate various activities in the hive, it is not a primary reason for rearing new queens specifically.