Dear Diary

• Published date: 23 March 2023
• Publication title: Irish Times: Web Edition Articles (Dublin, Ireland)

MÁIRE NIC MHAOLÁIN

Dalkey,

Co Dublin.

Sir, – Beekeepers will be familiar with the term "super" as they add an additional storey to their hives during the summer moths, intended to provide space for more storage cells for liquid honey. A "queen excluder" prevents unwanted additional juvenile queens being laid among the honeycomb.

Using "super" as an abbreviation of the word "supernumerary" or "additional" arose also in the days of manned...