The Queen Bee - Introduction
The major purpose of the queen is to lay eggs. During April and May, a typical time during the year, she lays day and night, each egg taking about 20 seconds. That's over 2000 eggs a day, more than the body weight of the queen. The queen mates only once and holds sufficient sperm from the male drones to lay eggs for 3-5 years, incidentally the drone bee dies in the mating process.
There are 3 types of wax cell used for eggs. The smallest cells are approximately 5mm in diameter. In these smaller cells, the queens lay fertilized eggs which in 21 days produce the female worker bees. In larger cells (7mm diameter) unfertilized eggs are laid, which in 24 days become the male drone bees. Production of offspring not requiring mating is known as "parthenogenesis". A very special cell which hangs vertically downwards is used to produce new queens. A colony producing queen type cells warns the beekeeper of an impending swarm.
A healthy queen bee is continually emitting pheromones (a bee perfume) that only the bees in the hive can smell and recognize. These pheromone odors tell the bees in the colony that the queen is still with them and all is well in the hive. This chemical pheromone communication is quite sophisticated and the personality of a bee hive will change if the beekeeper changes an old queen for a young one (with a new/different pheromone). In this way a beekeeper has some control over the temper and enthusiasm of a colony.
Italian Queens
Naturally mated Italian queens. The Italian honeybee is the most popular in the world.
BZB Queen Italian characteristics:
- These production proven queens must not only be the top producers, but must pass other stringent tests regarding resistance to diseases, temperament and honey-producing qualities. Our Italians produce large frames of brood, in a tight pattern.
- These queens will expand on their brood patterns when stimulated, and also curtail brood rearing after the honey flow. BZB Italian Queens usually store honey in the brood nest, and rarely need to be fed.
- They are excellent honey producers and not likely to swarm.
- While incorporating genetics to fight against the tracheal mite, these queens are raised in a mite-free environment for less supercedure, longer life and more productive colonies.
- Italian Queens are Bred in-house at BZB's Esparto facility.
Carniolan Queen Bees
Carniolan bees are well known for their ability to winter well in severe climates and for their quick spring build-up. They will work in slightly cooler conditions than the Italians will. Carniolan queens keep a very tight brood nest with heavy stores of honey. These black queens are mated to our Italian drones to provide a hi-bred colony with beautiful brood patterns and highly productive hives. Artificial insemination is used to maintain and enhance these queens.
- Excellent genetics.
- Instrumentally inseminated by our professional breeders.
