University of Arkansas, United States Department of Agriculture, and County Governments Cooperating

Contents

Selective Breeding for Better Queens 6

Biology of Breeding 6

The Starter Hive 7

Grafting Bee Larvae 8

Finisher Hives 10

Mating Nucs 11

Caging Queens 12

Banking Queens 12

Shipping Queens 13

Record Keeping 13

Cloake Board Method 13

Introducing Queens 14

About the Authors Jon Zawislak is the apiculture instructor with the Entomology Department, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture in Little Rock, Arkansas. David Burns is a queen breeder and owner of Long Lane Farm in Fairmount, Illinois (www.honeybeesonline.com). Both authors are Master certified through the Eastern Apicultural Society. Photo Credits Cover photo © Alex Wild, used by permission (www.alexanderwild.com). Figures 1, 5, 6, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 by Jon Zawislak. Figures 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9 11, 12 by David Burns.

Raising Quality Queen Jon Zawislak and David Burns

The queen is needed, without the Bee colonies raise queens fundamental to a colony’s expense or delay of having naturally. Inducing a colony survival and function. She queens shipped from to rear queens merely is the only member of the another producer. Surplus encourages this natural hive capable of producing queens can be sold to phenomenon, subject to the more female offspring to others in the area who need ’s conditions and keep the colony going. them, bringing extra schedule. While not diffi­ The chemical pheromones income to the beekeeper. cult or time consuming, the produced by a queen bee particular steps in rearing impart a unique identity Every beekeeper can queen bees must be done on to each colony and its maintain one or more small a schedule that matches the mem bers. The presence of nucs with a few frames natural development cycle these pheromones also holding a laying queen, just of honey bee queens keeps the colony cohesive in case one is needed. By (Table 1). Queen rearing and orderly. selectively raising their cannot be sped up or slowed own queens, beekeepers can down for the convenience A queen is the repository of take control of the charac­ of the beekeeper. If the a colony’s heritable genetic teristics they desire in their schedule is not observed, traits. These genetics own bee stocks. poor-quality queens may influence many aspects of colony behaviors, such as their defensiveness, Table 1 parasite tolerance and The schedule of tasks for rearing queen bees is based on the natural disease resistance, rate of development cycle of honey bee queens.This process cannot be sped population growth, and up, slowed down or altered for the convenience of the beekeeper. the efficiency of winter Become familiar with the timing of each step and prepare all equip­ ment, hives and bees to be ready on the appropriate dates. If planning food consumption. The to rear a large number of queens on a continuous basis, plan ahead so importance of a quality that mature cells are removed from finisher hives before new grafts are queen bee cannot be over ­ removed from the star ter. Prepare sufficient mating nucs before virgin emphasized. A colony of queens emerge. Keep accurate records of each step in the process. bees with un desirable Day 1 breeder queen lays eggs traits can be remedied by requeen ing. Within six Day 3 eggs hatch weeks of replacing a queen, most of the worker Day 4 graft larvae; place grafts into starter hive bees are replaced by the new queen’s offspring, Day 5 move grafts to finisher hive and noticeable changes in temperament and behavior Day 8-9 queen cells sealed will be evident. Day 12-14 move queen cells to mating nucs Beekeepers choose to raise queens for many reasons. Day 16 adult queens emerge from cells They can stock their own hives when queens die or Day 21 virgin queens begin nuptial flights need replacing. They can save money by raising their Day 30 mated queen laying eggs own queens. By doing so, beekeepers can have Day 32 evaluate new queen’s brood pattern queens available when

- 5 ­ result, or the beekeeper may step for improving the health of the to use as breeder stock, or find that a single early-emerging industry. purchase breeder queens from other queen has destroyed several weeks sources. Commercial breeder queens of effort. Disease resistance: Bees that may be instrumentally inseminated exhibit hygienic behaviors are from selected lines to produce Once the basic elements of the able to detect and remove diseased offspring with consistent traits. queen-rearing process are under­ brood at a very early stage of These queens may cost several hun­ stood, practically any beekeeper can infection. This behavior greatly dred dollars each and are generally raise surplus queens. Many tech­ reduces the chance that an entire used only to propagate more queens, niques have been developed to raise colony will become infected with a which are then open-mated with queens, and the process can be indi­ contagious pathogen. local drones. vidualized to overcome any chal­ lenges. While basic knowledge of Colony population growth: When selecting for healthy, disease- honey bee biology is fundamental, Some colonies will adjust their and mite-resistant queen lines, bee­ advanced beekeeping experience is brood rearing to seasonal conditions. keepers are encouraged to breed not necessary. However, as with They may increase in size prior to a from survivor stock. These are most activities, knowledge and nectar flow, ensuring more foragers colonies that have not been treated experience make queen rearing to collect nectar. They may also with chemical pesticides, but natu­ easier and more enjoyable. reduce their population during times rally possess traits that allow them to of summer dearth or approaching overwinter successfully on their own winter, which allows them to use and remain productive. Selective stored food more efficiently. Other Breeding for colonies maintain a large population Regularly treating colonies Better Queens and brood area despite conditions. with pesticides to get rid of mites only breeds stronger Any beekeeper can produce new Honey production: Some mites! At the same time, it pro­ queens, and most do it accidently. colonies of bees will be better motes the survival of bees that But a queen breeder produces new pro ducers of honey than others cannot cope with their natural queens with the goal of maintaining in the same apiary. Honey produc­ enemies. Breeding bees that are able and improving high quality stocks. tion is dependent on outside condi­ to combat mites by themselves is Many honey bee behaviors are tions as well as colony population, ultimately the best solution for the influenced by heritable genetic traits. brood production and overall colony beekeeping industry. As the mother of the entire colony, health. Typically, strong, healthy the qualities of a particular queen are colonies are better producers of expressed in every one of her off­ honey, and therefore, good honey Biology of spring. These traits can have pro­ production often indicates good Bee Breeding found effects on the behavior and overall colony health. As the bee­ health of the whole colony: keeper works to improve other traits Honey bee colonies consist of three that support colony health, honey specialized types of bees. Each Temperament: The reaction of a production should also increase. member has its own fundamental colony when it is approached, role to play in the production of new opened or otherwise disturbed can A bee breeder should take care to queens. When rearing queen bees, be a genetic trait. Africanized bees select only colonies with the most beekeepers will rely on all three of are particularly known for their desirable characteristics from which these types of bees to carry out their extremely defensive behavior. to propagate new queens. There is particular tasks. Gentle strains are especially no perfect bee for all situations or important when keeping bees in conditions. Rarely will any single The drone is the male bee, whose urban settings. colony possess all the most desirable essential job is to mate with a virgin characteristics, but over successive queen outside of the hive. When his Mite tolerance: Parasitic mites generations, a beekeeper should task is complete, he will die immedi­ are among the greatest problems for continue to select for preferred traits. ately. Drones add little value to a beekeepers. The effectiveness of When selecting the breeding stock, colony beyond this role, but in terms current mite treatments is limited, beekeepers must consider their of rearing productive queens, their and their use has had other detrimen­ own criteria regarding which contribution is crucial. tal effects on colony health. Breed­ characteristics are most desirable. ing bees which are able to remove or The workers make up the resist parasites without the assis­ Beekeepers can select one or more majority of the hive and are the tance of beekeepers is an important high-quality hives in their own backbone of the colony’s survival

- 6 ­ and daily activity. They construct workers just prior to a new virgin , and have a surplus of combs, feed and care for all the queen emerging from her cell. pollen and honey stored in the brood and the queen, clean and hive. The beekeeper creates these guard the hive, regulate the nest New queens are reared from young conditions in a starter hive. temperature, forage for all the female bee larvae. There is no fun­ hive’s needed resources (nectar, damental difference in any female pollen, water and propolis), and bee larvae when they are small. The Starter store surplus food to ensure the Each has the potential to become Hive colony’s future. either a worker or a new queen. All young bees are initially fed a rich The easiest way to create the The queen bee is the key to the diet of nutritious jelly by the work­ essential conditions for raising continuation of the colony. She is ers. Around the third day of their queens is to prepare a starter hive. the sole repository of the colony’s larval stage, most larvae are changed An ordinary five-frame nuc works genes: her own and those of the to a diet called bee bread, a mixture very well as a cell starter. Prepare drones with which she has mated. A of pollen and honey. When the the starter colony several hours queen honey bee stores the millions larvae are switched to this diet, they before introducing the larvae that of spermatozoa from multiple develop into worker bees (drones are will be reared as queens. A mini­ drones in a special organ within her also fed this mixed diet, but they mum of 2 hours is necessary for abdomen called the spermatheca. will always be drones). If a female the bees in this starter colony to These sperm remain alive and larva is continuously fed a diet of observe that they are queenless (due viable for several years, allowing throughout its larval to the significant drop in the level her to fertilize eggs as they are stage, however, it will develop into a of queen pheromones in their deposited. A healthy queen is capa­ queen bee. bodies). Do not prepare more than ble of laying 1,000 to 3,000 eggs 24 hours ahead of time. per day. In addition to eggs, she Once sealed drone cells are apparent constantly produces chemical in the hive, a beekeeper can begin A well-prepared starter hive pheromones that regulate hive rearing queen bees. Drones are sexu­ is among the most important behaviors. Her attendant workers, ally mature after 14 days. Therefore, factors in rearing high-quality known as her court or retinue, feed a sufficient number of mature drones queens. This hive should be very and groom her throughout the day should be available by the time crowded with mostly young, healthy, so that she can focus her attention newly produced queens are ready to well-fed workers. The nurse bees on egg production to maintain the mate. Queens can be reared into the which produce the most royal jelly colony’s population. Through their fall as long as drones are still present for the queen grafts are between 8­ association with their queen and in the hives. Once drones have been 12 days old. They are usually found their interactions with other work­ expelled from the hives for winter, on combs of open brood. ers, these attendants distribute her queen rearing should not be pheromones throughout the hive. attempted. Queenless colonies will One of the frames in the starter hive not expel drones, but sufficient is the cell bar frame, which holds While a healthy queen bee can live drones for good mating will be larvae that the beekeeper has for several years, most workers live extremely limited in the fall. selected to be reared as queens. Two for little more than a month during frames in the starter hive should be the warm foraging season. Therefore Beekeepers should ensure that all full of honey or nectar. At least one a colony of honey bees must have a hives in their operation are well frame should contain a large amount laying queen, or their population supplied with both pollen and of pollen or bee bread. This food is will dwindle within a few weeks. A honey (or protein patties and syrup) important for the young bees that colony perpetually monitors the per­ during times of dearth and drought. will populate this hive. They will formance of its queen. If she is Small colonies, such as mating nucs, need ample protein to produce the killed or removed, they will quickly can quickly run short of food if necessarily large amount of royal try to raise another queen from a their bee populations are minimal. jelly that queen larvae require. The suitable larva. If the queen begins to honey will be used for energy and to perform poorly, perhaps laying only In order to make hives produce new secrete the wax that they will use to unfertilized drone eggs, then she will queens, beekeepers must try to build the queen cells. These frames be superseded by a new queen. A mimic the conditions under which can all be taken from a single hive, colony will also rear multiple queen honey bees naturally begin raising or gathered from several hives. The larvae when they become over­ their own queens. The best queens final frame can contain additional crowded and are preparing to are raised by hives that are currently food, or can be an empty drawn swarm. The old queen will leave queenless, contain many young bees comb. Arrange the combs as in the with more than half of the colony’s capable of producing royal jelly and diagram (Figure 1).

- 7 ­ Grafting Bee tools, and needs little preparation. With minimal practice, most anyone Larvae can develop the skills to graft queens Honey bees rear new queens from within a short time. young larvae naturally. When a This manual describes a grafting colony becomes queenless or is per­ technique (sometimes called the ceived to have a poorly performing Doolittle method). For alternative queen, they will select larvae from methods of queen rearing (Alley, among their brood and provision Hopkins, Miller, Jenter, etc.) consult them abundantly with royal jelly. other sources for specific instruc­ Their cells will be elongated into tions. Regardless of which method is vertical queen cells. When preparing used to initially select the larvae, the to swarm, the queen deposits eggs in procedures for preparing starter and shallow vertical queen cups, often finisher hives are the same. Also, the Figure 1. Arrange the frames of the along the bottom edges of combs. starter hive so that the grafted larvae are timing of steps in queen-rearing in the center, surrounded with food for The bees recognize that the larvae in procedures remains the same. the workers. these vertical cells are meant to become queens and will treat them Grafting larva requires very little accordingly. When inducing the specialized equipment. All items can No combs in the starter hive should colony to rear queens, the beekeeper be purchased from beekeeping sup­ contain eggs or open brood. If any presents selected larvae to the pliers, modified from existing bee­ eggs or young larvae are present, the queenless starter colony in vertical keeping equipment, or created from bees may try to rear them as queens, cups as well. The bees recognize this scratch. Before beginning grafting, rather than the larvae selected by the cue and will automatically begin to prepare the workspace by arranging beekeeper. Older larvae cannot be rear them as queens. all tools and necessary equipment reared as queens, but will be fed and within easy reach. tended by the workers in the starter Various techniques have been hive and will therefore compete developed to select specific larvae A grafting tool (Figure 2) is used with the selected grafts for limited and present them to a colony of bees to pick up an individual larva from a resources. Care must be taken to to become new queens. These meth­ comb and transfer it to a queen cell ensure that no queen bee is acci­ ods can be divided into grafting and cup. A variety of styles are available dently transferred to the starter hive. non-grafting techniques. Grafting for purchase. Use the grafting tool larvae is the standard method for Workers will not start queen cells in that best fits your needs and your producing large numbers of queens, the presence of another queen. technique for handling larvae. The but can be easily done by the hobby­ authors prefer the inexpensive The starter hive should be crowded ist who desires to raise only a few spring-loaded Chinese grafting tool. with many young workers. These queens at a time. When grafting, larvae are removed from the comb Queen cell cups (Figure 3) hold workers can all come from a single the larvae in a vertical orientation in hive, or from multiple hives. Nurse with a small tool and transferred to individual queen cups. the starter hive, which encourages bees generally will not fight with the worker bees to rear them into those from other colonies in the Some beekeepers are intimidated by new queens. Cups made from plas­ spring. Begin by placing only two the idea of handling delicate larvae, tic, wood or wax may be purchased. combs in the starter hive (against the and so many other meth­ outside walls). Gently shake or ods have been developed brush the bees from combs of open to avoid this step. These brood into the space between. Care­ techniques may involve fully add the other two combs after cutting or otherwise the bees. The cell bar frame will be manipulating combs in added later; leave a gap in the center which the queen has for now. This hive should be well already deposited eggs, ventilated with screen, but all flight or confining the queen in entrances should be closed com­ a space where she has no pletely. Keep the starter hive in a choice but to lay eggs in cool, shaded location. A wet sponge provided cups. By con­ Figure 2. There are many types of grafting tools. placed against the screen can assist trast, grafting larvae is Beekeepers should use the one that is most comfortable the bees in keeping cool. not difficult, requires few and best fits their technique.

- 8 ­ wooden blocks hive. Do not jar the frame or to secure the otherwise shake the bees cell bar. Each from it; this may dislodge or cell bar needs a injure the larvae. minimum of 1¾" of space Place the frame on a table, with the top bar toward you. The cells in a Figure 3. Queen cell cups are mounted on a cell bar. Plastic cups beneath it for (left) are avail able from most equipment suppliers.Wax cups (right) are the bees to comb are naturally angled slightly simple to make. Bees will rear larvae placed in either type. finish the cells upward, so elevating the bottom bar and to allow the beekeeper to of the frame by a few inches, using a remove them easily. block of wood or other support, will allow you to see the bottoms of the Bright lighting is important when cells more easily as you work. selecting appropriate larvae. A Larvae in open brood cells are very headlamp or a desk lamp that can susceptible to drying out when be easily moved and adjusted is removed from the hive. Place a wet useful for hands-free operation, but towel under the frame and another a handheld flashlight is also effec­ on top to provide humidity for the tive to illuminate the bottoms of the larvae while you work (Figure 4). cells. Good eyesight is necessary for grafting. Some beekeepers may Choose only larvae about the same wish to purchase an inexpensive size as an egg, curved slightly into pair of reading glasses or other a “comma” shape and lying in their jelly (Figure 5). Approaching each Figure 4. Good lighting is essential for magnification aid. selecting the best larvae. A bright flashlight larva from the back of the curve, can be useful for directly illuminating cells. When the workspace is ready, select rather than the ends, is the easiest Some may find that magnification is neces­ a frame of brood from the breeder way to get the tool beneath it. When sary to remove individual larvae from the queen’s hive. A darker frame (black picking up a bee larva, care must be comb and place them in cell cups. plastic foundation or older wax taken to scoop up some royal jelly Wax cups can easily be made using comb) is preferable because the con­ with it. The tool should not actually a ³/8" diameter wooden dowel with a trast makes pale-colored larvae touch the larva at all. The flexible smooth, rounded end. Soak the easier to see. Some beekeepers con­ tip of a Chinese grafting tool slides dowel in cold water, dip into melted fine their laying queen on a particu­ easily down the side of the cell and wax several times to build a thick lar comb for a day, to ensure having beneath the larva (Figure 6). Pull layer, and then twist to remove the brood of a known and uniform age. the tool straight up; the larva and cup when cool. Different types or Usually, however, any frame with jelly will stick to it. Place the tip of colors of cups can be useful to keep both eggs and open brood should the tool against the bottom of the track of grafts reared from different contain more than a sufficient queen cell cup and depress the breeder colonies. number of acceptable larvae. When spring button on the back of the removing the frame from the colony, tool. The plunger will gently push The queen cell cups are attached to gently brush all the bees into the the larva and jelly into the cell as the cell bar. the tongue retracts. Other types of Some plastic cups grafting tools will require slightly are designed to fit different techniques to transfer the snugly into a standard grooved bottom bar (short­ ened to fit within the frame). Wax and wooden cells can be secured to the bar with melted wax or propolis. A cell Figure 5. Only the youngest (smallest) larvae are suitable for Figure 6. Use a grafting tool to lift out the bar frame is a grafting. Choose larvae that are about the same size as an egg larva along with some royal jelly.The tool (left). A suitable larva should be curled slightly, resting in a small never actually touches the delicate larva, standard bee hive pool of royal jelly in the bottom of its cell (center).The diet fed to which floats on top of the sticky jelly. frame modified an older larva (right) starting at day 3 stimulates its development Gently place the larva into the center of with small into a worker, and it cannot be reared as a queen. the queen cell cup without flipping it over.

- 9 ­ larvae. Position the larva in the Finisher so that the nurse bees will have center of the cell. Young larvae are ready access to more protein. These naturally lying on one side, breath­ Hives bees will need lots of pollen and ing through only one set of spira­ Because they are crowded and honey in order to rear the queens. cles (breathing holes). If a larva is queenless, bees in a starter hive are flipped over, it may suffocate. Be Remove the frame of grafted queen eager to begin raising new queens cells (Figure 9) from the starter sure to keep the larva in the same (Figure 8). However, starter colonies orientation as it is transferred. hive after 24-36 hours and place it are not apt to finish a large number into the prepared finisher hive Some beekeepers choose to of cells. Their resources are too (Figure 10). There is no need to “prime” queen cups with royal jelly limited to continue feeding many shake or brush the nurse bees from collected from other cells, or with queens. If left in the starter hive, the the grafting frame. These bees are other substances. This method, bees will selectively feed only some queenless and will not fight with called wet grafting, is both time of the larvae, abandoning the others. the bees in the finisher hive. They consuming and unnecessary. It is For this reason, the beekeeper must will continue to assist in caring for sufficient to transfer larvae to move the queen grafts to a strong the grafted larvae. The bees in the empty cell cups, or dry grafting, hive which can finish rearing them. finisher hive will quickly recognize with enough jelly to sustain them A finisher hive contains the new queen cells and begin to provi­ and keep them from drying out. The resources and population to care for sion them with an ample supply of diet fed to developing queens is dif­ many developing queens at once. royal jelly. Once the new queen ferent than that fed to workers. As Finishers must be strong and queen- cells have been sealed, another soon as the bees in the starter hive right and, therefore, will not be frame of grafts can be placed into discover the larvae, they will begin inclined to start new queen cells on the same hive to be finished. Do not to feed them appropriately. their own. However, since the queen give the hive more open grafts than cells have already been started by they can care for at once. After several larvae have been other bees, those in the finisher hive transferred, lay a damp cloth or will continue feeding them and seal paper towel across the tops of the the cells. filled queen cell cups to keep the grafts moist. While these larvae are not very sensitive to changes in tem­ perature, they are extremely sensi­ tive to low humidity. After all grafts have been made, insert the cell bars Figure 9. The bees on the cell bar frame into the cell bar frame. If necessary, can be added to the finisher hive.They use a small bit of wax or propolis to will continue to care for the grafted queen larvae. secure the cell bar in place. Grafted Figure 8. Bees in the starter hive begin larvae and jelly will naturally elongating the queen cups and provision adhere to the insides of the cups, but the cells with large quantities of royal jelly. turn the cell bar frame over gently and do not jar the frame as it is Any healthy populous bee colony being moved. Place the cell bar with at least two deep hive bodies frame into the center of the starter and ample food stores can be used as hive for 24-36 hours (Figure 7). a finisher hive. To prepare the hive, be sure the queen is in the lowest box and place a above her. If not confined below, the laying queen will quickly find and destroy all developing queen cells. The upper hive body should have at least two frames of open brood to draw nurse bees above the excluder. This box should also have one empty space where the grafts will go, in the center of the hive between frames of open brood. Place frames Figure 10. A finisher hive should be Figure 7. Place the frame of grafted larvae strong, well-fed and queenright. An excluder into the center of the starter hive for containing pollen or bee bread on keeps the queen in the lower box, but 24-36 hours. the other side of these brood frames allows workers to access both sections.

- 10 ­ The bees in the starter hive can be cells where the new queen can begin returned to the colony from which laying eggs. More bees can be they were taken, may be added to a shaken in, but they are not always weak hive, or may be used to start a necessary. Inspect mating nucs regu­ new hive. The beekeeper can take larly for pests. Small queenless one of the started queen cells from colonies are particularly susceptible the graft frame and press it gently to wax moths and small hive beetles. into an empty portion of comb in the starter hive. The bees will continue After preparing mating nucs, wait to rear this single queen, which will at least 12 hours before introducing emerge soon, mate, and begin to Figure 11. Once the queen cells have a new queen or queen cell. The bees head a productive colony. Place the been sealed by the finisher hive, they in the mating nuc will better accept hive in a suitable location and open should be removed. If a single queen is and care for the virgin queen if they allowed to emerge, she will destroy all rival recognize their queenless state. the flight entrance. Add another queens in their cells. comb to the colony to replace the Mating nucs can remain queenless cell bar frame that was removed. for up to three weeks at a time The new comb may be empty or full while new queen cells are being of food, depending on the needs of created. During this time they may the colony. try to create their own queens if open brood is available. Laying New queen cells must be workers may develop if nucs removed within a few days of remain queenless for too long. the cells being sealed. At the latest, this should be done by day Honey bee mating occurs outside the 14, or 10 days after grafting (see hive, high in the air. Virgin queens Table 1). If a new queen emerges seek out areas where drones congre­ earlier than expected into the Figure 12. Mating nucs are small hives that gate. Daytime temperature must finisher hive, she will seek out and house the new queen while she takes her reach 69°F for mating flights to nuptial flights and begins to lay eggs. Once destroy all other sealed queen cells, she begins to lay in a good pattern, she can occur. Sufficient drones must also be ruining the beekeeper’s efforts. be marked with the appropriate color. available to the queen for successful Cells can be removed directly to mating to happen. queenless hives, to mating nucs, or breeders. Using small colonies also to an incubator. If placed in an Beekeepers may check the hive minimizes losses when queens fail between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. and be incubator, cells should be kept to return from mating. upright and caged individually at unable to find a queen during this 92°F with high humidity. Transfer Small nuc boxes holding three to first week because she is out on a the virgin queens to mating nucs as five frames work very well. Many nuptial flight. In this case, remain soon as they emerge. beekeeping suppliers also offer patient and check again after 6 p.m. various types of mini-nucs or stan­ or early the following day. If no evi­ Mating dard hives divided into three or four dence of a queen can be found for smaller sections with separate several days, introduce a new one. A Nucs entrances. It will benefit the queen small number of queens do not Once queen cells are sealed producer to remain consistent in return from mating flights. terms of equipment size so that (Figure 11) they should be trans­ Drones typically remain within 1.5 ferred to mating nucs before they swapping frames and woodenware will be easier. Deep frames are miles of their hive. Virgin queens fly can emerge. The purpose of a a greater distance to seek mates, mating nuc is to provide an recommended over medium or shallow because the bees can better minimizing chances that they will environment for a virgin queen to encounter brothers from their own emerge, embark on her nuptial regulate their temperature and can store more food. hives. Colonies with several combs flights and begin laying eggs. of drone foundation can be placed at A mating nuc is usually a very small Mating nucs must be queenless. distances of one mile from the hive with just enough bees and food Each should contain at least one or mating yard, and in several direc­ to support itself (Figure 12). Any two frames of open brood covered tions. This practice, known as drone size hive can be used to house new with nurse bees, and at least one flooding, can be done to influence queens, but small nucs are often frame of honey and pollen if there is the mating stock available to virgin used, due to the large number of none stored on the brood frames. A queens. The colonies used as drone hives that are needed by queen nuc should have some area of empty sources should have desirable traits, - 11 ­ be of known lineage, and should not foulbrood can be transmitted in than two weeks, virgin queens will be genetically related to the breeder honey, it is against the law in most lose their inclination and ability to queens. Providing good queens to states to ship bees with honey in any mate and will produce only neighboring beekeepers is another form. Queen candy can be made by unfertilized eggs (drones). way to improve the genetics of kneading together confectioners’ nearby drone sources. sugar and light corn syrup until a Mated queens can also be held in firm consistency has been reached. It individual cages for up to two Once a queen has completed her should be soft enough to shape with­ weeks. When ready to ship, three mating flights, she will soon begin out crumbling, but firm enough that or four attendant bees should be to lay eggs. It may take from sev­ it will hold its shape and not melt in added to the cage. Choose these eral days to a week for her to estab­ a warm hive or in the mail. from among the workers clustering lish a good brood pattern. Once a on the outside of the cage. They are queen begins laying and her brood A mini-marshmallow can be used to already accustomed to her scent pattern is judged to be adequate, plug the cage temporarily, but these and have been participating in she can be removed and used to will soften quickly and should not feeding her. Mated queens that are requeen a failing or queenless hive. be used for shipping. Some bee­ caged before they have had an If she is to be offered for sale to keepers consider that the cornstarch opportunity to lay eggs often another beekeeper, she can be added to confectioners’ sugar become poor-quality layers when caged with several attendant bees affects honey bee health and prefer later introduced to a hive. Allowing for transportation. If sufficient to make their own by pulverizing queens to establish a good laying hives are not available to house all pure granulated sugar in a coffee pattern in the mating nuc before queens, they can be banked to grinder or blender. they are caged also ensures that sustain them temporarily. only high-quality queens are being Banking sold. Marking queens only after Caging their laying pattern has been evalu­ Queens ated is good practice. This will Queens assist the beekeeper in locating the A queen bank (Figure 14) is queen again when it is time to cage Many types of queen cages are prepared similar to a finisher hive: her and establishes which queens available, made from wood, plastic strong, well fed and queenright. It are ready for shipment. Use the or wire mesh. Cages are used to pro­ also requires a queen excluder to established international queen tect queens during shipping, separate keep the laying queen away from the marking color system (Table 2) them for banking, and to introduce caged queens. The finisher hive can them into new hives. Queen candy is for all queens that are offered be used to bank queens as long as no for sale. used to plug the opening of the cage open queen cells are present. The (Figure 13). This candy serves as hive will not be able to properly care food for the attendant bees during for numerous open queen cells as Table 2 shipping. It also slows the release well as adult queens. of the queen into a new colony, Standard queen marking colors repeat ever y 5 years. Use the color for the last protecting her while the bees accept digit of the year in which the queen was her pheromones. mated.This color indicates the age of the queen and assures the beekeeper Traditionally queen cage candy has that she has not been replaced. Marking been made from sugar and honey, queens is par ticularly impor tant in but because spores of American areas with established populations of Africanized honey bees.

year ending in queen color Figure 14. Caged queens can be banked for up to two weeks.Workers will care for 1 or 6 /gray both virgin and mated queens in the same colony. Prepare a queen bank as you would a finisher hive. 2 or 7

Virgin queens can be banked in 3 or 8 Figure 13. A queen cage with candy plug is individual cages for up to two weeks used to separate and protect queens while after emerging from their cells. 4 or 9 they are banked, during shipping, and when However, they should be introduced introducing them into a new hive. Attendant into nucs and allowed to mate as bees should not be added until the queen is 5 or 0 blue ready for shipment. soon as possible. If held for more

- 12 ­ Shipping a queen may emerge a day earlier hive by removing the upper box. than expected. Rotate the lower box and bottom Queens board 180 degrees, so that the flight The particular pedigree of queen Shipping queen bees through the entrance is now to the back of the lines should be recorded as well. hive, and completely close off the U.S. mail or by other common Note the date and original source of carri ers can be simple and con ­ entrance to the lower box. Confirm breeding stock (name and location that the queen is in this lower box. venient, but has risks. A live of breeder from which it was pur­ queen can be killed easily if left in chased), bee race (Italian, Russian, If not already present, move three direct sunlight or in a hot vehicle. Carniolan, etc.), and any other char­ to four frames of open brood into Communicate with your shipping acteristics or information that is the upper box. Remove one frame repre senta tive and pick-up driver (if known (VSH or hygienic traits). (empty or containing honey, but not possible) to ensure they are aware Begin new records for all colonies brood), leaving nine evenly spaced that you have live cargo. Discuss that are propagated from existing frames. Ensure that the top box their handling methods and esti­ stocks, or from feral colonies or contains two frames with pollen or mated travel times. Some carriers swarms that were captured. Consider bee bread. This food will be neces­ may supply you with stiff card­ everything you know about them as sary to care for the open brood and board document envelopes free of you evaluate colonies as potential queen cells. charge. These are fine for shipping breeding stock. a small number of caged queens. Place the Cloake board on top of the For larger numbers of queens, When installing queen cells or virgin lower hive body, without the metal special packaging may be neces­ queens into a mating nuc, record the divider. The Cloak board’s entrance sary. Shipping containers must have date of introduction, and then record should be facing forward, or the adequate ventilation. Drill or punch the date when she is found to be same direction as the original open­ holes in envelopes or use boxes laying eggs. It is a good practice to ing. Replace the upper box and close with screen panels. mark each queen only after her egg- the lid to the hive (Figure 17). laying pattern has been evaluated. Place a queen cage in an envelope Leave the hive alone for 12 hours. so that the screened side is not The open brood will attract nurse against the envelope itself. Just Cloake Board bees into the upper box. Returning before sealing the packaging, wet a Method foragers will land on the front of the fingertip with clean water and rub it hive, looking for the entrance, and across the screen mesh. This simple The Cloake board method, will eventually find their way into technique of watering the queen developed by Henry Cloake of the upper entrance, but it may take before shipping will greatly reduce New Zealand, uses just one hive for some time. stress on the queen and workers both starting and finishing queen during transit. cells. Because the “starter” bees After 12 hours, slide the metal must feed a large number of open divider into place and unblock the Minimal shipping time is important. brood in addition to the grafts, they lower entrance, now facing to the Only ship queens using overnight or are unable to devote all of their rear of the hive (Figure 18). As bees two-day service. Beware of shipping resources to a large number of queen adjust to the new openings, most in extremely hot or cold weather. cells. This system is not suitable for foragers that leave the lower commercial queen production. How­ entrance will return to the upper Record ever, on a small-scale, a beekeeper box. These bees will bring fresh can easily produce up to a dozen resources to the bees in the upper Keeping queens at a time using this method. Record keeping is extremely A Cloake board consists of a important when breeding queen wooden frame that provides a flight bees. The schedule for queen rear­ entrance to the bees above it, with a ing procedures (Table 1) is neces­ queen excluder below, and a sliding sarily based on the developmental metal divider which functions to cycle of the queen bee and cannot close off the queen excluder and pre­ be altered. The beekeeper should vents communication between the therefore establish clear written two groups of bees (Figure 15). records to track the steps taken and Figure 15. A Cloake board consists of a know when to expect queens to Begin with a strong queenright queen excluder mounted in a wooden emerge. If a grafted larva was a day colony that has at least two deep frame, with a removable metal insert. It also older than it appeared, for instance, hive bodies (Figure 16). Prepare the has a flight entrance above the excluder.

- 13 ­ cells, these bees may reject the new queen and continue raising their own. If no eggs are visible, the hive may have a virgin queen or a newly mated queen who will soon begin laying eggs. Check the hive after 6 p.m. to spot a virgin queen which may have been out on a mating flight earlier in the afternoon. A colony will not accept a new queen if a virgin queen is already present. Figure 16. Begin with a strong, queenright Figure 17. Rotate the hive and place the colony with at least two deep hive bodies. Cloake board between hive bodies, ensur­ Do not remove the candy plug ing that the queen remains below. Block the from the queen cage. Allow time lower flight entrance. for the new queen’s pheromones to permeate the hive. Only remove the cork or plastic cap that is covering the candy. Do not directly release the queen into the hive or the colony may kill her. Hang the queen cage in the center of the brood nest area. The queen cage can be held snugly in place between two frames, or suspended between two combs on a wire or string. Do not place the screen side Figure 18. After 12 hours, insert the metal Figure 19. After 24 hours, remove the of the cage against a comb or the floor and unblock the lower entrance. Add metal floor and allow the colony to finish bees cannot feed the queen through the cell bar frame to the upper hive body. the queen cells. the mesh and spread her phero­ mones throughout the colony. If the box. Because communication with bees from both sections to care for cage falls to the bottom of the hive, the queenright portion of the hive the grafts, but the excluder prevents bees will quickly cover it. Use your below has been cut off by the metal the queen from destroying the new to retrieve the cage and slide, the bees in the upper box will queen cells. secure it between two frames. soon perceive that they are queen- This method can also be accom­ less and will be ready to nurture the Always position the cage so plished by using any queen excluder grafts that will be placed in the that the candy plug faces up! and a piece of plywood or other upper section of the hive. If the candy plug faces down, dying material that completely cuts off attendant bees may fall and block Prepare a cell bar frame with a communication between the halves the queen’s access to the exit. small number of grafts according of the colony. the methods described earlier. Open Do not remove the attendant bees the top hive body and remove any Introducing from the cage. These few bees emergency queen cells that the already accept and feed the queen upper bees may have started. Queens and will transfer her pheromones to Rearrange the nine frames to allow For best results, do not introduce a the workers outside of the cage. for the addition of the cell bar new queen until a hive has been Allow your bees three to five days frame, placing it near the center of queenless for at least 24 hours. to release the new queen. After this the hive, with brood and food on Look for eggs to be sure a laying time, you may open the cage and each side. If necessary, feed them queen is not present. If so, the release her. pollen and/or syrup. Leave the metal workers will kill the new queen. slide in place for 24 hours. The When replacing a queen, remove upper box, in this state, functions as (kill) the old one at least 24 hours the starter hive. before introducing the new queen. After 24 hours, remove the metal Destroy any queen cells in a hive divider, reuniting the two boxes before installing a new queen. If a (Figure 19). This allows the worker colony has started making queen

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