On Thu, 18 May 1995, Jean-Marie Van Dyck wrote:
 
> On Thu, 18 May 1995 05:17:34 -0600
> W. Allen Dick, Beekeeper <[log in to unmask]  or  [log in to unmask]> asked ...
>
> > We always (when we remember) put JZBZ cell protectors on queen cells as
> > soon as they are capped.  It saves a lot of grief -- ie. splits made, nucs
> > ready, or whatever, and then you go to get the cells to find them destroyed
> > due to a stray queen at the last minute.
>
> > I never hear this practice recomended.  Why?
>
> Bonjour Allen !
>
> I don't know how are this JZBZ protectors.  In Belgium we generally have
> the two "NICOT" queen cells protectors
 
The JZBZ are are an ample sized rigid plastic mesh device with a tang to
push into the comb, or optionally, two double fingers for hanging between
frames.
 
>
> 1. Only a plain polypropylene tube to put the mature queen cell in.
>    We use it the last days (10-11 after the picking).
>
> 2. A larger PP tube with different sized holes we use when we put the
>    cells in incubator.  This may be use in the hives (or nucs) but
>    a/ if you don't open the bee ports : the cell temperature is not quite OK
>       because a lack of bees on the cell.
 
I would have thought taht the temperature would be pretty constant
through the whole brood area, or incubator.  I can see how the queen
might have trouble breathing thru the cell walls though, with a plastic
tube around the cell.
 
>    b/ if you open the bee ports : a laying worker may destroy the cell ...
 
I think the protectors we use have no adverse effects, and have a number
of positive advantages.  Moreover they are very cheap.
 
I wouldn't be without them, because, for example today, I had 22 splits
on top of excluders in three differnet yards.  They were made up a few
hours previously by my crews as they were reversing and feeding etc.
They phoned me the locations and out I went with the ripe cells.
 
I slipped a dividing board under each and put a cell in between the top
bars.
 
Without the protector, the cell would be torn down before the bees
knew they were queenless.  This way, I have only one trip (10 miles) and
the cell will endure and be accepted by the time the new queen comes out.
 
Allen