Introduction queen cell KNE9

01 · WHAT IT SOLVES

It stages a second hatching

A newly emerged virgin arriving from elsewhere is an intruder carrying a foreign smell, and a queenless colony can treat her as one. This cell gives her a different way in: as far as the bees are concerned she is sitting in a queen cell about to open. Because they release her themselves, they receive her as a queen born at home. That is why the age window is narrow — up to 2 days: past that point the virgin no longer fits the part.

02 · PREPARATION

A plug at one end, a wax capping at the other

The queen goes in through the wide end, which is then closed with its plastic plug. The other end — the one the bees will open — is sealed with a wax capping pierced by a breathing hole: you can make it with a mini-mould or with the same wax cup mould you use for grafting. Once the cell is in the queenless hive, the workers usually open the capping within about 10 minutes and the queen is free.

03 · WHAT DECIDES

The cell helps; the colony decides

The trick works on a foundation you have to get right first: the hive must be genuinely queenless, with no queen cells of its own under way, and carry enough bees and stores. A laying-worker colony accepts worse the longer it has been in that state. And after introducing her, do not open up to check: a virgin still has to fly to mate and get into lay, and every disturbance in those days works against you. Neither this cell nor any other guarantees acceptance or mating.

04 · BEFORE YOU BUY

It is a very simple, very cheap piece of NICOT plastic, meant for working in batches through the rearing season. Have the mould and the wax ready before the virgins are in your hand: the capping has to be made on the spot.