Queen Travelling and Introduction Cage

01 · CONSTRUCTION

Clear-bodied and ventilated

The body is clear plastic, so you can check the queen and her attendants at a glance without opening anything — in transit, and again while the cage sits in the hive. Ventilation windows keep air moving so the bees are not shut into a still, damp box.

02 · FEEDING

The candy feeds her and releases her slowly

The candy compartment does two jobs. On the journey it feeds the queen and her escorts — for up to three weeks — and once inside the hive it is what gives you a slow release: the colony eats through the candy from the outside and the queen walks out on her own after 1–3 days, rather than all at once.

03 · INTRODUCTION

Introducing her

Snap off the breakable safety tab, then pierce the candy with a wire or a small nail so the bees have somewhere to start. Set the cage between two frames, normally upright, and do not smear it with honey. The receiving colony must be queenless and prepared: without that, neither the cage nor the candy will make a colony accept a queen.

04 · COMMON MISTAKES

What ruins an introduction

Never leave the cage in direct sun or hard heat with bees inside. Do not wet the candy. Leave the colony alone for the first few days — if you find bees biting at the cage, she may be being rejected. And use the queen promptly; it is best not to keep her caged much beyond about 8 days. Afterwards the cage washes out under a pressure hose, disinfects and goes back into service.

05 · BEFORE YOU BUY