Which scenario describes efficient supercedure?

Efficient supercedure occurs when a new queen is reared and emerges while the old queen is still alive, allowing for a seamless transition without loss of productivity or delay in colony operations. In this scenario, the mother queen survives until the daughter queen emerges, ensuring that the colony maintains its activities and social structure during the transition.

This process is beneficial because it allows the colony to continue functioning normally and helps prevent issues such as reduced brood rearing or diminished hive activity that can happen if the old queen dies without a replacement. Effective supercedure also ensures that the new queen can start laying eggs immediately after she mates, helping the colony maintain its population and strength.

The other scenarios do not reflect efficient supercedure; for example, the death of the old queen without a replacement leads to a period of queenlessness, which can be detrimental to the colony. Similarly, if the new queen emerges before the old queen dies, there can be competition and potential conflict rather than a smooth transition. Multiple queens being eliminated simultaneously can cause additional chaos rather than a structured replacement, which further compounds the inefficiencies in the supercedure process.