RESCHEDULED CABA: Queen Cell Grafting Workshop

Queen Cell Grafting 

Rescheduled for Sunday at 2:00pm Due to Weather!

Directions: Take Perkins Road to La Crete Lane, Right on Old Perkins Road West to Lamar Advertising.  Hives are along the tree line.

Queen cell grafting is a beekeeping technique where a bee larva is transferred from a worker brood cell to an artificial queen cup, allowing beekeepers to control the timing and production of new queens. 

Here's a breakdown of the process:

• Purpose:
  Grafting helps beekeepers produce a desired number of queens, particularly those who manage multiple hives or want to control queen production. 
  
• Larva Selection:
  The most effective grafting occurs when using day-old (or very young) worker larvae, which are then transferred to queen cell cups. 
  
• Tools:
  Beekeepers commonly use a grafting tool (like a Chinese grafting tool) to scoop up the larva along with a small amount of royal jelly. 
• Process: 
• 1. Preparation: Isolate a queen on a frame of brood comb to ensure eggs are laid in a specific area, making it easier to find the correct age larvae. 
     
  2. Frame Setup: Place a frame with artificial queen cell cups (either plastic or wax) into the cell-building colony. 
     
  3. Grafting: Carefully pick up a young larva using a grafting tool, lift it, and place it in the center of a queen cell cup. 
     
  4. Return to Colony: Once all queen cups are grafted, return the cell bar to the rearing colony, ensuring the nurse bees can continue to feed and care for the larvae. 
     
  5. Cell Rearing: The worker bees will then draw out the queen cells and feed the larvae royal jelly, leading to the development of queen cells. 
     
  6. Queen Cell Introduction: After about 10 days (or 11 days after grafting), the queen cells are removed and introduced to queenless nucleus colonies or hives. 
     
  7. Queen Emergence: Newly emerged queens will mate and begin laying eggs, restarting the cycle. 
     
• Important Notes: 
• 1. Grafting is a delicate process, requiring patience, a steady hand, and attention to detail. 
     
  2. Beekeepers should aim to transfer healthy, young larvae and ensure they are properly positioned within the cell cups. 
     
  3. The timing of grafting is crucial, and beekeepers should be aware of the different developmental stages of larvae. 
     
• Variations in tools:
  Chinese grafting tools are common, but other tools, like a paintbrush or piece of grass can also be used.