>My concern is that they will swarm. Will they swarm with a virgin queen?
They certainly can. Will they is another matter. Afterswarms are always virgin queens. You made the primary swarm (so you'll lose a lot less bees if they do decide to "afterswarm")
>Will they have a virgin queen fight?
Yes.
> Could the victor be damaged?
Doubtful, but possible.
>Do they "choose the best queen" or is the next Queen-of-the-Hive, the one that emerges first and/or wins the fight?
The one that wins the fight. I watched this whole drama in an observation hive once between a queen with crumpled wings and one with good wings. Crumpled wings won. The hive ended up with laying workers as she tried to fly but couldn't mate or get back. it kind of made me wish I had intervened but I was curious to see how it would play out.
They certainly can. Will they is another matter. Afterswarms are always virgin queens. You made the primary swarm (so you'll lose a lot less bees if they do decide to "afterswarm")
>Will they have a virgin queen fight?
Yes.
> Could the victor be damaged?
Doubtful, but possible.
>Do they "choose the best queen" or is the next Queen-of-the-Hive, the one that emerges first and/or wins the fight?
The one that wins the fight. I watched this whole drama in an observation hive once between a queen with crumpled wings and one with good wings. Crumpled wings won. The hive ended up with laying workers as she tried to fly but couldn't mate or get back. it kind of made me wish I had intervened but I was curious to see how it would play out.