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    Queen Bee

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    Arnav
    This document provides information on queen rearing for beekeepers, including the benefits, requirements, and a simple technique. It discusses raising queens from a breeder hive, grafting larvae, using cell builder hives, and setting up mating nucs. Recommended books and supplies for queen rearing are also listed.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Queen Bee

    Uploaded by

    Arnav
    297 views7 pages
    This document provides information on queen rearing for beekeepers, including the benefits, requirements, and a simple technique. It discusses raising queens from a breeder hive, grafting larvae, using cell builder hives, and setting up mating nucs. Recommended books and supplies for queen rearing are also listed.

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    This document provides information on queen rearing for beekeepers, including the benefits, requirements, and a simple technique. It discusses raising queens from a breeder hive, grafting larvae, using cell builder hives, and setting up mating nucs. Recommended books and supplies for queen rearing are also listed.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    297 views7 pages

    Queen Bee

    Uploaded by

    Arnav
    This document provides information on queen rearing for beekeepers, including the benefits, requirements, and a simple technique. It discusses raising queens from a breeder hive, grafting larvae, using cell builder hives, and setting up mating nucs. Recommended books and supplies for queen rearing are also listed.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    At a glance
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    Some of the key takeaways from the passage are that raising your own queens can save money and provide self-sufficiency, disease resistant stock is available, and local adaptation can be maintained. Queen rearing also allows one to observe the fascinating natural process and is a rewarding investment of time.

    The requirements for successful queen rearing according to the passage are having a good breeder queen, queen rearing equipment such as a grafting tool and cell cups, appropriate lighting and magnification if needed for grafting, and warm temperatures of 80-94 degrees F for queen cells until they are placed in mating nucs.

    The steps provided in a simple queen rearing technique are to give the breeder hive an empty comb on day 1 for egg laying, graft larva on day 4 and place in a queenless cell builder colony, remove completed queen cells on day 14 and keep one behind, and allow virgin queens to mate starting on day 22 requiring nice weather and drones.

    Glenn Apiaries

    Home | Queen rearing | Honeybee genetics | Bee breeding | Bee gallery | Bee
    links | Pattern Press | De Luz wildlife

    Queen Rearing for


    Translate
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    Italian
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    Queens  Save money while having the satisfaction of self sufficiency


    Begi
     You control the quality and reduce the risk of introducing pests and beekeepersc
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    diseases advice on ge
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    in beek
    en sources  Disease resistant breeding stock is now available
    What's happ
    ted queen  Well adapted local stock is utilized in matings, conserving bio diversity Bee World
    ers
     By working with nature, a fascinating natural process is unveiled Honeybees i
    suppliers
     Raising your own queens is the best investment of your beekeeping Glenn Apiar
    ensitive time
    Beekeeping
    (VSH)
    Requirements for successful queen rearing
    olution to Beekeeping
    diseases
     A good breeder queen to graft larva from.
    s VSH  Grafting requires good light, good eyesight or appropriate magnification. Beekeeper A
     Grafting larva of the proper age (1-24 hrs old).
    on for  Queen rearing equipment (grafting tool, cell cups, cell bars and frame) San Diego B
    can be made or purchased. Some queen kits eliminate grafting
     Natural mating requires 69 degree temps. and mature drones (15 days
    Breeders
    old)
     Several good books on queen rearing explain the principles of bee
    n the biology.
     Queen rearing classes.

    Honey
    A Simple Queen Rearing Technique
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    graphy  Day 1 - Give breeder hive an empty dark brood comb to lay eggs in.
     Day 4 - Transfer (graft) larva into artificial queen cell cups, from the
    breeder comb. Place the frame into a strong colony (cell builder) made
    queenless the day before.
     Day 14 - Remove completed cells from cell builder. Leave one cell
    piaries
    ions behind to replace the queen. Keep queen cells warm (80-94 F) until
    they are placed in queenless hives (mating nucs).
    ental  Day 22 - Virgin queens are ready to mate. They require nice weather
    ation (69 F), and an abundance of drones to mate with. A few colonies within
    a mile are adequate for providing drones for mating.
    earing  Day 27 - If queens mate without weather delay, they should now be
    oduction laying eggs.
     Weather delays in mating will add days to the process, after 3 weeks
    tour delay, virgin queens may start to lay unfertilized eggs.
     Time your activities so that warm temperatures and drones are available
    program when the queens are ready to mate.
    genetics

    ory
    How to graft queens
    watering
    Grafting is simply the process of
    ge filler transferring larva from the worker cell of
    the breeder's hive to an artificial queen
    eca test cell. The shape of the cell, along with
    the queenless condition of the hive
    Apiaries receiving the newly grafted cells
    stimulates the workers to feed them a
    diet which make them develop into
    queens.

    A grafting tool can be as simple as a bent piece of wire, or several varieties


    can be purchased. The tool is slipped under the larva which is lifted out and
    placed in the bottom of the queen cell cup. Priming the cells with a small drop
    of royal jelly or even diluted honey makes it easier to float the larva off the
    tool. Don't flip over the larva. An unsteady hand is helped by bracing it lightly
    on the comb.

    Good light is essential, a headlamp works well, sunlight is ok if done quickly.


    Magnifying lamps are useful for those with poor eyesight.

    Some people are expert grafters from the start, others need more practice.
    Grafting is what prevents most people
    from attempting queen rearing. This is
    unfortunate, because with an hour or two
    of practice, anyone can acquire this
    valuable skill. Give it a try.
    The Breeder hive
     Graft from your best colony, or purchase a selectively bred breeder.
     Use the youngest (smallest) larva.
     By placing an empty brood comb in the brood nest 4 days before you
    graft, the larva will be the right age.

    Setting up the Cell Building Colony


     Any strong hive can serve as a cell builder.
     Remove the queen one day before you graft
    cells.
     Place grafted cells in center of the brood
    nest.
     Place about 30 cells per colony.
     Large cells will be produced by well
    nourished colonies.
     Feeding is not necessary if a light honeyflow
    is on and pollen is abundant.

    Setting up Mating Nucs


     Cells are placed in queenless colonies the day before they hatch.
     The mating process is usually only 75% successful.
     Small mating colonies minimize the losses due to unsuccessful queens.
     Mini-nucs are convenient for raising large numbers of queens.
     Cells can be placed in any queenless colony.
     Most queenless colonies will accept cells without queen cell protectors.
     Recent research shows that queen quality is best when they are left to
    lay eggs in the nuc for about a month.

    Mating conditions
     Queens are ready to mate 5-7 days after hatching.
     Temperature must be at least 69 F with no strong winds.
     Virgin queens mate with 10 to 20 drones on one or more flights.
     Drones and queens may fly a mile or more to drone congregation areas.
     Queens will begin laying eggs 2 to 4 days after mating.
     Mating can be delayed up to 3 weeks and still be successful.

    Good books on queen rearing


    The following books all describe in detail, various methods of raising from one
    to a thousand queens. Most of the tricks of the trade are in these books.

    Queen Rearing and Bee Breeding (1997) by Harry LaidlawJr. and Robert
    Page Jr., Wicwas Press, Cheshire, Connecticut.

    Successful Queen Rearing by Dr. Marla Spivak and Gary Reuter

    Contemporary Queen Rearing (1979) by Harry Laidlaw Jr., Dadant and


    Sons, Hamilton, Illinois.

    Breeding Queens (1997) by Gilles Fert, O.P.I.D.A., Argentan, France.

    Rearing Queen Honey Bees by Roger Morse


    Book Sources:

    Wicwas Press - Comprehensive of bee books

    Bibliofind - Good internet source of used and out of print bee books.

    Videos
    Successful Queen Rearing by Marla Spivak and Gary Reuter

    Queen Rearing Classes


    Successful Queen Rearing Short Course by Dr. Marla Spivak and Gary Reuter at
    University of Minnesota

    The Art of Queen Rearing by Susan Cobey at UC Davis

    Instrumental Insemination and Bee Breeding Workshop by Susan Cobey at UC


    Davis

    Advanced Workshop on the Technique of Instrumental Insemination by Susan


    Cobey at UC Davis

    Queen rearing supplies


    Mann Lake Ltd.- Plastic cell cups, cages,
    grafting tools, kits, nuc boxes.

    Dadant & Sons Inc. - Books, supplies

    - Books, videos
    A. I. R oot C o.
    Brushy Mountain Bee Farm - Jenter system, supplies.

    Betterbee Inc. (800) 632-3379 - Supplies and kits

    Walter T. Kelley Co. (502) 242-2012,- Wood cages, wax


    cups, grafting tools

    Suki Glenn office manager

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