queenless
Lacking female sovereign
Queenless describes a bee colony or other social insect group that lacks a queen.
A queenless hive cannot reproduce and will eventually die without intervention: The beekeeper discovered the hive was queenless and introduced a new queen.
The term applies primarily to honeybees but extends to ants and other eusocial insects.
Having no one directing
- rudderlessLacking guidance or direction
- headlessLacking a head
- adriftFloating without control
- directionlessWithout aim or guidance
unguided · aimless · disorganized · chaotic · unmanaged · orphaned · bereft · vulnerable
Dependent territorial settlement
- broodHatchlings as a group
- workerPerson who toils
- droneUnmanned flying machine
- swarmMass of moving insects
beekeeper · apiary · absconding · dwindling · failing · comb · larvae · pupa
Following in order
- interregnumRulership gap period
- regentInterim throne holder
- throneCeremonial chair for sovereigns
- heirOne who receives legacy
crown · dynasty · kingdom · court · realm · consort · abdication · coronation
leaderless
Having no one directing
- rudderlessLacking guidance or direction
- headlessLacking a head
- adriftFloating without control
directionless · unguided · aimless · disorganized · chaotic · unmanaged · orphaned · bereft · vulnerable · abandoned
colony
Dependent territorial settlement
swarm · beekeeper · apiary · absconding · dwindling · failing · comb · larvae · pupa · propolis
succession
Following in order
- interregnumRulership gap period
- regentInterim throne holder
- throneCeremonial chair for sovereigns
heir · crown · dynasty · kingdom · court · realm · consort · abdication · coronation · sovereign
endgame
Concluding phase of competition
bishop · knight · pawn · checkmate · stalemate · strategy · tactics · zugzwang · opposition · promotion