weakining queen pheremones

[FordGuy]

what are some things that tend to show weakening QMP? I am assuming drift from one weak QMP queen to one that is strong; possibly a lack of willingness to tend to the queen's needs; possibly devouring her eggs as they may think they are foreign (I'm speculating here obviously) Any other signs that a queen is losing her grip on the workers?

[tecumseh]

drift for sure, irritability of the hive in general, a weak and random laying pattern, lack of organization, failure to house clean and a buckshot laying pattern.

[Michael Bush]

>what are some things that tend to show weakening QMP? I am assuming drift from one weak QMP queen to one that is strong;

Probably but wind or placement can also cause this.

>possibly a lack of willingness to tend to the queen's needs;

I haven't seen that, but the often just start supercedure cells.

> possibly devouring her eggs as they may think they are foreign (I'm speculating here obviously)

Not that I know of.

>Any other signs that a queen is losing her grip on the workers?

Irritability, as tecumseh says.

[FordGuy]

thanks - I have noticed on hives with queens not yet emerged that the bees are irritated and show it with noise, but are otherwise docile (buzz loudly, but stay on teh comb)

Can anyone else validate this observation, or am I seeing something else?