Importance Of Importance Of Quality QueensQuality Queens

Clarence H. Collison

Emeritus Professor/Dept. Head

Mississippi State University

Workers are affected by the Workers are affected by the presence of the queen and presence of the queen and her pheromones.her pheromones.

Queens live 2-4 yearsQueens live 2-4 years

Mate only once (7-15 drones)Mate only once (7-15 drones)

Requeen On Requeen On

A Regular BasisA Regular Basis

Requeen at a minimum of Requeen at a minimum of every two yearsevery two years

What makes a good queen?What makes a good queen?

How can you determine if How can you determine if you have a good queen?you have a good queen?

Beekeepers evaluate queens Beekeepers evaluate queens on basis of colony on basis of colony characteristics:characteristics:

• Brood patternBrood pattern• Behavior of the queen on Behavior of the queen on

the combsthe combs• Temperament of workersTemperament of workers• Production recordsProduction records

A queen controls A queen controls fertilization by regulating fertilization by regulating

the release of spermatozoa the release of spermatozoa from her spermatheca.from her spermatheca.

Her entire supply of Her entire supply of spermatozoa is limited to spermatozoa is limited to those obtained before she those obtained before she starts egg laying, so she starts egg laying, so she

must dispense them must dispense them gradually.gradually.

Several spermatozoa are Several spermatozoa are apparently released each apparently released each

time a fertilized egg is laid, time a fertilized egg is laid, but the actual depletion rate but the actual depletion rate

is unknown.is unknown.

Queens (Alberta Canada)Queens (Alberta Canada)

1-2 weeks old 9.77 million sperm1 year old 7.63 million sperm2 years old 5.57 million sperm3 years old 2.08 million sperm

Szabo & Davis 1991

Genetic FactorsGenetic FactorsPhysiological ConditionPhysiological Condition

Food Quality and QuantityFood Quality and QuantityOvary SizeOvary Size

Mating SuccessMating Success

Number Of Nurse BeesNumber Of Nurse Bees

Broodnest TemperatureBroodnest Temperature

Fresh Nectar And PollenFresh Nectar And Pollen

Significant correlations Significant correlations have been found between have been found between egg laying rate, population egg laying rate, population size, and honey production.size, and honey production.

Several researchers have Several researchers have attempted to evaluate queens by attempted to evaluate queens by relating body size or weight and relating body size or weight and

other morphological other morphological characteristics with:characteristics with:

Egg productionSize of brood areaTotal colony populationHoney production

Queen WeightQueen Weight& &

Number Of OvariolesNumber Of Ovarioles

Weight of QueenWeight of Queen& &

Brood AreaBrood Area

Brood AreaBrood Area&&

Honey ProductionHoney Production

Weight Of Queen Weight Of Queen &&

Honey ProductionHoney Production

Heavier queens produce more brood and Heavier queens produce more brood and honey.honey.

Best time to weigh queens is when they Best time to weigh queens is when they are 12 days old and in their mating nucs.are 12 days old and in their mating nucs.

Discard 15 to 25% of the lightest queens.Discard 15 to 25% of the lightest queens.

Nelson and Gary 1983Nelson and Gary 1983

Heavier queens have more Heavier queens have more ovarioles/ovary and thus ovarioles/ovary and thus potentially can produce more potentially can produce more eggs.eggs.

Number of ovariolesNumber of ovarioles

130-186 ovarioles/ovary130-186 ovarioles/ovary

Queens with 300 or more Queens with 300 or more ovarioles are considered to ovarioles are considered to

be of good quality.be of good quality.

Dietz (1985, 1986) was able Dietz (1985, 1986) was able to show that queen weights to show that queen weights are correlated with queen are correlated with queen

acceptance by workers and acceptance by workers and hence may indicate the hence may indicate the

value of a queen.value of a queen.

Colony traits change due to Colony traits change due to different matings.different matings.

Sperm clump and form layers Sperm clump and form layers in the spermatheca.in the spermatheca.

Needs to be considered when Needs to be considered when judging a queen.judging a queen.

Poor QueensPoor Queens

Larval AgeLarval Age

Each Increase In 1 Day of Age Each Increase In 1 Day of Age of Brood Graftedof Brood Grafted

Decreased Decreased Body WeightBody Weight

Size of SpermathecaSize of SpermathecaNumber of OvariolesNumber of Ovarioles

Number of Spermatozoa In Number of Spermatozoa In SpermathecaSpermatheca

Woyke 1971Woyke 1971

Larval NourishmentLarval Nourishment

Inadequate starter or finisher Inadequate starter or finisher colonies result in small cells.colonies result in small cells.

Small queen cells should be Small queen cells should be discarded.discarded.

Cell sculpturing should also be Cell sculpturing should also be considered.considered.

Volume and Length Queen Cell Volume and Length Queen Cell &&

Weight of QueensWeight of QueensNumber of OvariolesNumber of Ovarioles

Chilling Of Queen Chilling Of Queen CellsCells

Rough Handling Of Rough Handling Of Queen CellsQueen Cells

Queen Cells Placed On Queen Cells Placed On Their Sides During The Their Sides During The

Pupal Stage May Die Or The Pupal Stage May Die Or The Virgin Queen May Emerge Virgin Queen May Emerge

With Deformed Legs Or With Deformed Legs Or Wings.Wings.

Poor Mating Poor Mating ConditionsConditions

Number of SpermatozoaNumber of Spermatozoa&&

Size of SpermathecaSize of Spermatheca

Queens With Sperm Counts Queens With Sperm Counts Less Than 3 Million Are Less Than 3 Million Are

Unable To Head Colonies Unable To Head Colonies For One Season.For One Season.

Average DroneAverage Drone8 million Spermatozoa8 million Spermatozoa

Average QueenAverage Queen50 million Spermatozoa50 million Spermatozoa

Queen’s spermatheca normally Queen’s spermatheca normally contains 5-7 million contains 5-7 million

spermatozoa.spermatozoa.

Drones are sexually mature at Drones are sexually mature at approximately 12 days of age.approximately 12 days of age.

Sperm count goes down after Sperm count goes down after 20 days of age.20 days of age.

Shipping ConditionsShipping Conditions

There are numerous There are numerous diseases and physiological diseases and physiological problems that can prevent problems that can prevent

the queen from laying the queen from laying fertilized eggs.fertilized eggs.(Drone Layers)(Drone Layers)

Lack of FertilizationLack of FertilizationUnsatisfactory FertilizationUnsatisfactory Fertilization

Exhaustion of Sperm SupplyExhaustion of Sperm Supply

11% Low Sperm Counts11% Low Sperm Counts10% Queens had Nosema10% Queens had Nosema

54% Attendants had Nosema54% Attendants had Nosema47% Packages had Nosema47% Packages had Nosema

(1963-1966)(1963-1966)

Late Packages Arriving In Late Packages Arriving In Canada, Queens Had Higher Canada, Queens Had Higher

Sperm Counts.Sperm Counts.

Queens In Mid- To Late- Queens In Mid- To Late- Summer Are Best.Summer Are Best.

Nosema causes a high level of Nosema causes a high level of supersedure.supersedure.

Damages cells lining mid and hind Damages cells lining mid and hind guts.guts.Metabolic processes are disturbed.Metabolic processes are disturbed.Ovaries suffer severe damage.Ovaries suffer severe damage.High proportion of eggs fail to hatch.High proportion of eggs fail to hatch.Stops laying eggs.Stops laying eggs.

SummarySummary

Colonies should be headed by young vigorous queens.

Select large queens that have been reared when colony nutritional conditions are excellent and mated when large drone populations are present.

Summary ContinuedSummary Continued

Solid brood patterns, temperament, colony characteristics and productivity are the characteristics that you should be using to judge your queens.

Remember, you cannot judge a queen without a large population of bees so the queen is able to develop to her full potential.