Replacement of old queens

Replacing old queens is a forced process that increases the productivity of the bee colony. Naturally, the replacement is carried out during the swarming of bees. Replacing the queen in autumn is more preferable for beekeepers. In this case, the young queen gains strength during the winter, and by spring becomes ready for oviposition.

Why you need to change queens

The queen bee is a female with well-developed reproductive organs. She is considered the head of the family, since her main task is to lay eggs. The queen bee stands out from the rest of the bees with its appearance. Its abdomen is shaped like a torpedo and protrudes significantly beyond the wings. The queen can leave the hive only during swarming or during active mating. It is slower than working individuals. There are the following types of bees:

• swarm;
• quiet shift;
• fistulous.

Less quality larvae reproduce fistulous queen bees. This is due to the fact that they have to be placed in small cells. The most common variety are swarm queens. They provide high quality honey. On average, one swarm bee lays about 15 queen cells. The disadvantage of such queen bees is their tendency to swarm. Silent shift queens are not inferior to the previous variety in productivity. They appear if the previous uterus becomes too old. Sometimes beekeepers provoke the process of its appearance purposefully.

As the queen bee ages, the reproductive function decreases. In order to maintain the insect population, it is necessary to stimulate the development of young bees. They are replacing the old one. Under the influence of certain factors, the uterus may die prematurely. This will lead to disruption of the hive and the further death of its representatives. Therefore, the beekeeper needs to monitor the presence of the queen bee. If necessary, measures are taken to cultivate a new leader of the bee family.

Replacing queen bees in the fall is somewhat risky. There is a risk of placing an infertile queen. In this case, the bees can kill a new resident of the family. They are not always willing to accept new individuals. The resettlement may end in conflict, which will affect the quality and quantity of the crop in the spring.

How often do you change queen bees?

The frequency of replacement of queen bees is determined by a combination of factors. The age of the queen of the bee family is decisive. Also take into account:

• climatic conditions;
• beekeeping methods;
• biological characteristics of insects;
• the state of the family at a given moment.

On average, the life expectancy of a queen bee is 5 years. But after 2 years, the female becomes unsuitable for oviposition, especially under the influence of adverse factors. The older the queen bee, the weaker the family. The reproductive abilities of the leader of the bees also depend on the quality of the honey flow. If it was long and productive, the uterus wears out faster. Therefore, it is better to change queens in the apiary at least once every 1 years. But many beekeepers prefer to change queens annually.

What are the ways to replace queen bees in the fall

There are several ways to replace the queen bee in the family. The beekeeper selects the most suitable option for himself. Most often, replacement is practiced without searching for the queen of the family. This method is called a silent change of uterus. A mature queen cell is placed in the hive, in which there is a young queen bee. If the bees take it, then they gradually release the cocoon, waiting for the appearance of a new queen. After her first oviposition, the old individual becomes unsuitable for further reproduction. The bees get rid of it on their own. Silent replacement of the uterus can be triggered by unforeseen events – illness, rodent attack, hypothermia of the uterus, etc.

Replacement of the uterus in September can be done by creating layering. It is separated from the main part of the bees by a partition. In this case, active procreation work will be carried out in both parts of the hive. Over time, families are united. And the old individual is kicked out of the hive as unnecessary.

When is the best time to change queen bees?

Beekeepers prefer to change the uterus in the autumn. It is believed that juveniles rarely die during wintering. They are the most resistant to high temperatures. In autumn, the hive is treated with chemical solutions. An old individual may not survive it due to a weakened state. Therefore, the hive with a new queen is processed.

Replacement can be made at any time, from April to September. Each beekeeper has his own approach to this process. Statistics show that the replacement before the main honey harvest is more productive. But other factors that can affect the quality of the crop should be taken into account.

How to replace the queen in a bee colony

The queen bee is responsible for the genetic makeup of the bee family. If she stops laying eggs, there is a need to replace her. Initially, you need to find the queen of the family. To do this, it is desirable to examine the frames with the largest number of bee brood. Outwardly, the main individual is larger than other bees. But she can hide in honeycombs, which makes her invisible.

To facilitate the search process, it is recommended to divide the family into 2 parts. To do this, you can equip a temporary home for each of them. After 3 days, eggs will appear in one of the boxes. It is in it that the queen bee hides. Problems with finding it can arise if the bees are too aggressive.

The discovered uterus should be placed in the nucleus or immediately killed. Within a day after the removal of the old queen, a new individual should be placed in the hive. You can also use a silent shift queen liquor. It is placed in the hive without touching the leader. Over time, the bees themselves will provoke a replacement, relying on instincts. Replacement without looking for an old queen bee is not welcome. This is due to the following reasons:

• low probability of successful adoption of the uterus;
• lack of control over the uterus;
• the replacement process is possible only in good weather.

In order for the bees to accept a new queen, she must have the scent of a family. One trick will help with this. It is necessary to irrigate the bees and the uterus with sugar syrup with the addition of mint. If no measures are taken in advance, the bees can kill the guest by sticking a sting into it. In some cases, the new queen is simply ignored. As a result, she dies of hunger.

How does a quiet change of the queen occur in the bee colony

Any beekeeper is interested in a quiet replacement of queen bees in September. This procedure is considered less traumatic for the family. But next year it will bear fruit. It is natural for bees to breed a new leader in case of injury or illness of the old one. They learn about this event by smell. The mortification of the old womb in favor of the new one is the main aspect of the instinct of self-preservation.

Beekeepers induce a quiet shift even if the reproduction of the old queen does not decrease. The reason for such actions is the desire to collect as much crop as possible. To provoke the breeding of a new queen, it is enough to divide the hive into two parts and add a queen liquor to one of the parts.

Caring for bees after the autumn replacement of queen bees

Autumn replacement of queen bees is a kind of stress for the inhabitants of the hive. In order for the resettlement to take place with the least losses, the beekeeper provides high-quality care for the bee family. First of all, the hive is processed in order to prevent infectious and fungal diseases. The new queen may bring them from another dwelling.

After the placement of the queen bee, it is necessary to regularly look into the hive. Bees are able to throw out a new queen if they don’t like it. It also requires more food to be placed in the hive. It is advisable to use at least 5 liters of sugar syrup per hive. Within a week, the first eggs should appear. If this is the case, the feeding process continues. A feeder with the same amount of syrup is placed in the hive. In a hive with a new queen, you need to look more often than usual. It is labor intensive, but the result will exceed expectations.

Since it is required to prepare the bees for winter in autumn, the hive is carefully insulated. Frames are placed on the inside, and the bee house is insulated from the outside with any material at hand. Most often, foam or mineral wool is used. The wintering of insects depends on the quality of thermal insulation. Do not forget about the ventilation holes. Without the required amount of oxygen, the air in the hive will be too dry.

Replacing queens in August requires no less close attention. The difference lies in the fact that by sending bees for the winter, the beekeeper can be sure that the new queen has been accepted by the family. In this case, the probability of a negative development of events is reduced.

Conclusion

Replacing the queen in the fall is an optional process, but many beekeepers try to stick to it. The result of this change is the high productivity of the family and the quality of honey. But it is extremely important to carry out the change of queen bees strictly in accordance with the established rules.