i: QUEEX-REARING IX EXGLAXD. 



will do very well. The quill is sharpened to a point as broad 

 as that of a " J " i>en, but taperiiag more gradually, the tip 

 to a length of iin. being scraped to make it pliant, and 

 it is turned up as shown in the illustration. 



As regards si/re of larvae, I find that the 1 est larvae to take 

 are those that measure about one-half of the side of the 

 hexagon forming the cell, or, expressed in another way, 

 those that are no smaller than a mignonette seed and not 

 quite so large as a lettuce seed. Larvae that are scarcelv 

 larger than the egg are undesirable because the bees often 

 destroy them, probably through failing to notice them, while, 



too Ic 



X 



right size 





too 

 ■5/na// 



right / 

 •size. 



N 





Fig. in. 

 Selecting larvae tor queen-rearing. (Magnified about three diameters.) 



on the other hand, larxae that are larger than a lettuce seed 

 produce undersized queens. 



If the comb is a new one, a number of larvae of the right 

 size will probably be found grouped together. The depth 

 of the cells is reduced by shaving their mouths off with a 

 knife. To lift the larva out of its cell the turned-up tip 

 of the quill is brought to the bottom of the cell beside the 

 larva and then scraped sideways o^er the bottom of the cell 

 under the jelly supporting the larva. When it is brought 

 just sufficiently far under the larva to raise it, the larva is 

 lifted out with as much of the jelly adhering to it as pos- 

 sible and deposited in the centre of the cup. 



