The following is a note from a NYS commercial beekeeper.  Last year he
purchased cells from Miksa (in Florida) to make summer splits.  He prefers
to not directly post to Bee-L, but gave me permission to quote him.

Reference is made to bees returning to NYS from blueberry pollination in
Maine.  Normally that would be about June 15.  Fredonia is in the Western
part of NYS, in prime goldenrod territory.

"I got 800 cells from Miksa a couple weeks after my bees returned from
Maine,
400 on two consecutive Fridays.  The splits were ready when the cells
arrived.  The cells are addressed to my local UPS and I picked them up first
thing in the morning.  There were no problems with shipping.  There were
plenty of bees to keep the cells warm so I did not bother to put them in my
incubator while going from yard to yard.

As others have, I could write much about my experience with the cells, but
think it a bit redundant.  The best thing to do is just try them.

Approximately 5% of the cells hatched as I was placing them, but do not
consider that much of a problem as it is important that the cells be shipped
just before emergence so as not to harm them.  Placing an occasional queen
in a split posed no problem.

The real problem is keeping hives alive for a year.  We need better queen
stock, desperately!  Years of chemical build-up, I believe, has taken its
toll.  Replacing brood comb pays!"

Personally, I think Miksa is on to something of real importance and intend
to try some cells this year.

Lloyd
Lloyd Spear, Owner Ross Rounds, Inc.
Manufacturers of Ross Rounds Comb
Honey Equipment, Sundance Pollen Traps
and Custom Printer of Sundance Labels.

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