£o Feb., 1911.] Introducing Queen Bees. 



method is adopted in various factories, and would, if practised, frequently 

 avoid disappointment ; it is often diflkult to detect where the leakage takes 

 place when the soldering is defective. 



* * * * * * 



With the object of imparting information on this and kindred subjects, 

 demonstrations are given at the Technical Exhibition, 581 Flinders-street, 

 Melbourne. Xo charge is made, and visitors axe welcome at any time in 

 office hours. 



INTRODUCING QUEEN BEES. 



F. R. Beuhnc, Bee Expert. 



The begimier in bte- keeping and, s(jmetimes, even the more experienced 

 apiarist, has difficulty in introducing a new queen to a colony of bees ; 

 occasionally, absolute failure is the result. 



A considerable percentage of the queens bought annually from queen 

 breeders arc lost in introductitai. This is chiefly owing to the bee-keeper 

 failing to observe the many changes in the mood or temper of bees, due 

 to climatic influences, variation of nt-rtar secretion, and the methods of 

 manipulation of modern bee-keeping. 



When the colonies of an apiary are in normal condition, the printed in- 

 structions usually .sent out with queen bees will insure safe introduction; 

 under certain conditions, which will Xh- referred to further on, the usual 

 method must, however, be entirely departed from. To introduce a new 

 queen to a colony it is, first of all, necessary to find and remove the queen 

 which is to be replaced. It is during this operation that, in most histances. 

 the foundation for future trouble is laid. When the queen to be removed 

 is a black or brown one. it often takes considerable time to find her. Bees 

 from other hi\es are attracted and the bees of the colony operated on are 

 rou.sed to a state of attacking any stranger ; and, when the new queen 

 appears amongst them a day in two later she may be killed right away or 

 balled and worried to death. 



The hunting up of queens should be done towards evening when l>ees 

 have ceased to fly ; care should be also taken that no honey is spilt from 

 combs so as to attract robber bees or ants next day. Bees will most readily 

 accept a new queen after being queenless for from 24 to 48 hours. If 

 queenless longer, queen-cells will have been started and the bees will b-' 

 less friendly disposed towards a new queen. 



When a queen is received by post, remove the cover of the cage and 

 note her condition. If satisfac tory remove the cork or covering slip from 

 the end of the cage containing the candy and, if there is a queenless colony 

 ready for introducing, place the cage wire downwards on top of the brood- 

 frames. Ihe bees, by gnawing out the candy, will relea.se the queen in 

 from one ti> three days. If no colony is (|ueenles.s at the time of arriv.d. 

 kK>sely rei)lace the cover on the cage and keep it indtx^rs. If, on examin- 

 ing the cage on receipt from the r<»^t Office, the (lueen is found dead, 

 notify the sender and as pnnjf return the cage with be«'s and dead iiuee!). 

 You will then receive another queen ill repuLible i|u«^n-breeders guar- 

 antee safe arrival. 



By the method of introduction de.scril>-fi above, the worker bees which 

 accompanied thf c|n<fn irr introdnet-d ;dong with her. If the randy in t!i'- 



