Mail order queen bees
A fascinating topic! Mail-order queen bees are a convenient and popular way for beekeepers to acquire new queens for their colonies. Here's a rundown on the process:
Why buy a queen bee?
Queen bees are the reproductive females of a honey bee colony. They are responsible for laying eggs and ensuring the colony's survival. When a queen bee reaches the end of her lifespan (typically 2-3 years), beekeepers may choose to replace her with a new queen to maintain a healthy and productive colony.
How do mail-order queen bees work?
Beekeepers can purchase queen bees from reputable suppliers, often referred to as "queen breeders" or "queen producers." These suppliers breed and raise queen bees in controlled environments, ensuring a high-quality product.
Here's the process:
- Ordering: Beekeepers place an order with a queen supplier, specifying the type of queen they want (e.g., Italian, Carniolan, or Buckfast).
- Queen selection: The supplier selects a queen from their breeding stock, considering factors like genetics, temperament, and disease resistance.
- Queen preparation: The selected queen is prepared for shipping by being mated with a drone (male bee) and fed a special diet to ensure she is healthy and strong.
- Shipping: The queen is carefully packaged in a special box or container, often with a food source and a pheromone to calm her during transport.
- Delivery: The queen is shipped to the beekeeper, usually via USPS or UPS.
Tips for buying mail-order queen bees
- Research: Choose a reputable supplier with a good reputation and experience in breeding queen bees.
- Check the queen's history: Ask about the queen's lineage, genetics, and any health issues.
- Consider the queen's age: Some suppliers may offer queens at different stages of development, such as "nurses" (newly emerged) or "mated" queens.
- Check the shipping process: Ensure the supplier uses a reliable and safe shipping method to prevent queen loss during transport.
- Plan ahead: Allow 1-2 weeks for shipping and preparation, and plan to install the queen when the colony is ready.
Benefits of mail-order queen bees
- Convenience: No need to travel to a local supplier or breed your own queens.
- Variety: Access to a wide range of queen breeds and genetics.
- Quality control: Reputable suppliers ensure the queens are healthy and well-cared for.
- Cost-effective: Can be more cost-effective than breeding your own queens or purchasing from local suppliers.
Remember to always follow proper installation and care procedures when introducing a new queen to your colony to ensure a smooth transition.