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Author Topic: Unmated queen introduction  (Read 3757 times)

Offline Patrick

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Unmated queen introduction
« on: September 20, 2009, 05:31:24 pm »
Hi,
Can I introduce a new unmated queen, in a cage, from one hive into another?  I have only ever done this with mated queens.
Cheers,
Patrick

Online Michael Bush

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Re: Unmated queen introduction
« Reply #1 on: September 20, 2009, 08:32:23 pm »
You can.  It is trickier than a mated queen.  I think smoking the hive heavily and running her in is about as reliable as any, but it is never 100% no matter what you do.  The usual methods are not so much use.

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesalleymethod.htm#introducing_virgin_queens
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesqueenrearingsimplified.htm#c16
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesdoolittle.htm#CHAPTER17
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Offline Robo

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Re: Unmated queen introduction
« Reply #2 on: September 20, 2009, 09:06:48 pm »
No,  introduction in a cage will not work as they won't release her,  you need to release her yourself.   For best results,  release her in a nuc with young nurse bees.

Some will also claim dipping her abdomen in honey first helps,  but I have never done it. 
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Offline TwT

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Re: Unmated queen introduction
« Reply #3 on: September 20, 2009, 11:07:44 pm »
Some will also claim dipping her abdomen in honey first helps,  but I have never done it. 

I have done that twice and it worked fine, smoke the hive good and put honey on her pretty good and turn her loose, work both times I tried it that way...
THAT's ME TO THE LEFT JUST 5 MONTHS FROM NOW!!!!!!!!

Never be afraid to try something new.
Amateurs built the ark,
Professionals built the Titanic

Offline adamf

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Re: Unmated queen introduction
« Reply #4 on: October 09, 2009, 08:26:35 am »
We introduce many virgins each season. I have tried various methods throughout the years and find that treating the virgin is LESS important in a successful introduction then the condition of the receiving bees. As stated earlier in this thread, if the receiving bees are psychologically receptive to a virgin, the chances for success greater: what is psychologically receptive? Queenless, younger bees would be very receptive to a virgin; bees that are expecting a virgin.

I'll use a Benton (3-hole) cage or JZBZ cage with either a tiny bit of a candy plug OR one layer of paper rubber-banded over the entrance. Introduce the virgin in this to, small nuc populated by young and emerging bees.

Good luck!
Adam Finkelstein
info@vpqueenbees.com
www.vpqueenbees.com

 

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