The quest for quality queens: as a queen producer you build the foundation of the industry. As a honey producer and pollinator, you rely on the quality of queens purchased

摘要

The quest for quality queens is a pursuit of every beekeeper, or at least should be, inclusive of both commercial and hobby interests. It is the demarcation between the beekeeper and the keeper of bees. The queens in your hives play a major role in determining your colony productivity and profitability, as well as the level of enjoyment of your beekeeping experience. Selecting and producing good breeding stock or choosing a reliable queen producer to supply your needs is critical. As a queen producer you build the foundation of the industry. As a honey producer and pollinator, you rely on the quality of queens purchased. Colony performance is influenced by; 1. queen quality, 2. your beekeeping management and expertise, and 3. the environment. Two of these three factors you can control and will be the subject explored in this series, with a focus on stock improvement.