Worldwide Beekeeping
Beekeeping => Raising Queens => Topic started by: Yankee11 on March 15, 2014, 08:49:32 am
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I saw a picture of someone grafting and it got my attention. They had cut the comb down on the frame to just above the larva. It almost
looked like a tiny larva sitting on plastic foundation. It really made it look easy to get the larva out.
Does anyone know how they might have done this. I'm thinking a wire, fishing line or something.
Looked like it would help in keeping the larva right side up.
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You can use a sharp knife that is warmed in hot water.
Just get yourself a chinese grafting tool. They are flexible and can follow the cell wall, curving at the bottom. That's when you lift up with the larvae on the tip.
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I've got one. Have not mastered it yet though. Gonna try the one with hook on it next.
This picture I saw made it look easy not having to go down those cells. The tiny larva was just right there. Thought it might
help me more successful at first.
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quite often that is what I do.... most especially if the comb I am grafting from is not totally black... first thing it does is make the larvae much easier to see. I use a razor blade and simply cut thru the middle of a row of cells and peel back the walls of the cells.
you are correct Yankee in that anything you can do that will make the process go a bit quicker or easier will almost invariable improve your success rate. same thing goes for anything you can do to make yourself more comfortable.
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This is what I was looking at. Sure makes it look easy to get to the larva.
(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs28.postimg.cc%2F6vpw4al89%2FDSC06697.jpg&hash=7d75119e84ef018bd5893f944854686e160f9081) (http://postimg.cc/image/6vpw4al89/)
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Looks like they just removed all the wax from the plastic foundation?