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Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology

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Subject:
From:
Robin Dartington <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Sat, 26 Jun 2004 10:26:28 +0100
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" Another very useful device I use when handling queens outdoors is a box
> with a screen on top and fabric on two sides so you can put your hands in
> without letting the queen out".

An alternative that avoids need for another bit of gear with you when
visiting hives is just a large clear plastic bag , kept folded in the
pocket.  You put the queen and a spare cage plus one hand into the bag, and
tuck the ends into your sleeve.  You can of course open a cage one-handed,
but the hand outside the bag helps with holding things thru the plastic.

Also, a  useful way of transferring queens from cage to cage before
introduction is to dip the queen-right cage into warm water for a second
then it can be opened without any risk of flight.  Introducing a wetted
queen was Snelgove's water method - if exchanging a queen in lay for another
in lay,  he just put the wet queen straight in without a cage , if I
remember.  He even said you could wet the queen in your mouth!

Finally, a word of warning on these translucent plastic cages. I put a new
queen from a nuc into one recently for introduction, and left the cage on a
hive roof in the sun.  Within five minutes, I had a dead queen.  I suppose
the orange plastic cages give only moderate shading, but the clear ones are
little ovens.

Robin Dartington

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