Queen cell

Pronunciation: /kween sel/

Category: Anatomy

Singular: Queen cell

Plural: Queen cells

Definition

A specialized, larger cell in a bee hive where a queen bee is raised. These cells are typically larger than worker or drone cells and are vertical in orientation.

Etymology

Derived from 'queen', referring to the queen bee, and 'cell', indicating a compartment in a bee hive.

Example

The workers built several queen cells in preparation for swarming.

Synonyms

Royal cell

Related Terms

Queen bee
Swarming
Bee hive
Drone cell
Worker cell

Usage Notes

Queen cells are crucial for the reproduction and continuity of the bee colony. New queens emerge from these cells and either take over the existing hive or leave to form a new colony.