Multiple queens are the norm in the case of Schwarziana quadripunctata, the South American Stingless honey bee. However, even the Western/European honey bee (Apis mellifera) can be raised in hives with multiple queens in the right conditions. read more
A honeybee hive can have more than one queen. Two are possible when an old queen accepts the presence of a new queen or if sister queens accept one another’s presence. This is also determined by the decision of the entire hive , but no one is really sure why the hives occasionally accept the presence of two queens (super rarely even three). read more
Although we are taught that two queens can’t survive in one hive, it happens frequently. It occurs most often when a supersedure cell hatches while the original queen is still alive. The virgin daughter hatches, mates, and begins to lay eggs right alongside her mother. read more