I just found this study that Dewey Caron did in 1979. I am not sure that this fully answers our question. Would like to get access to the full article, but can't seem to figure out how to get it. I was able to clip the Abstract:
Abstract
Queen cells placed in the brood rearing area of queenright Apis mellifera L. colonies are destroyed by worker bees in response to holes cut in the cells by queens. Normal queen cells, cells with occupants removed, cells with workers or drones substituted, and artificial pieces of wax made to resemble cells were destroyed. Queen cells with older queen pupae were destroyed more frequently than recently capped cells. Queen cells with holes were consistently repaired in colonies with caged queens, except when holes were large or high in position. Queen cells with holes were rapidly destroyed in queenright colonies.
Destruction of queen cells placed in queenright Apis mellifera colonies
Title Destruction of queen cells placed in queenright Apis mellifera colonies
Publication Type Journal Article
Year of Publication 1979
Authors Caron D.M., and Greve C.W.
Citation Key 128
Journal Ann. Ent. Soc. Amer.
Volume 72
Pagination 405-407