>leaves some beekeepers vulnerable to purchasing expensive queens that are
simply bee stock.

Many years ago I visited a commercial queen producer (who is no longer
around), and helped him to pull and cage queens for sale.  He had a nice
stool to sit on, that had two pockets in which to place the newly-caged
queens for sale.

If the pulled queen happened to be black, she went on the Carni side, if
yellow she went on the Italian side.

Even now it is difficult for queen producers who live in the same area to
control their matings, despite their best efforts.  A buyer might be
careful about purchasing queens from a producer who offers more than one
stock.


Randy Oliver
Grass Valley, CA
530 277 4450
ScientificBeekeeping.com

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