What is one reason why a bee colony may produce a new queen?

One reason a bee colony may produce a new queen is that the hive gets too crowded. When the population of the colony increases significantly, the existing resources may become insufficient, prompting the bees to take action for their survival and continued growth. In such situations, workers may begin to rear new queens from larvae, which allows part of the colony to swarm. This swarming process is essential for the colony’s propagation, as it enables a portion of the bees to leave with the new queen to establish a new hive, while the original queen remains with the remainder of the colony.

In contrast, while the queen's death can also lead to the creation of a new queen, this scenario focuses specifically on conditions leading to swarm behavior as a survival strategy when the hive becomes overcrowded. This understanding of bee behavior and colony dynamics is crucial for beekeepers managing their hives and ensuring the health of their colonies.