Author Topic: What Is The Purpose Of Preserving Dead Queens In Alcohol? (Read 7410 times)

Jen · « **on:** October 20, 2014, 02:28:39 pm »

The question just came up on another thread about keeping dead queens in alcohol. I did the best I could with limited knowledge on how they are used to attract a loose colony into an empty hive body. So go for it guys!

apisbees · « **Reply #1 on:** October 20, 2014, 02:32:25 pm »

To make queen lures for attracting swarms to swarm boxes or to keep bees thinking they are queen right when they are not.

kebee · « **Reply #2 on:** October 20, 2014, 06:40:00 pm »

Can one put more than one queen in the alcohol to make the lures, or only one queen per bottle.

Ken

iddee · « **Reply #3 on:** October 20, 2014, 06:54:18 pm »

The more, the merrier. With a few, you can use a few drops of alcohol for the lure, rather than the queen. The alcohol evaporates and leaves the queen smell there.

Jen · « **Reply #4 on:** October 20, 2014, 07:25:26 pm »

Here is my jar of queens. Some are out of their queen cell, and some are just coming out of their queen cells. Last spring I was in the process of requeening on of my hives so I had to get all queens and anything queen related out of the hive before introducing the new hive. I took 29 live queen cells out of the hive. Took me four hours! These are preserved in everclear.

Yankee11 · « **Reply #5 on:** October 20, 2014, 07:28:46 pm »

I think they need to be mated queens, I didn't think they gave off a pheromone until after mating.

Gypsi · « **Reply #6 on:** October 20, 2014, 08:01:32 pm »

I heard they had to be mated queens too. I've only squished 2 so far, one I wasted and lost, another I smeared on the front of her replacement's cage and the hive accepted the new queen readily and that is now my biggest hive.

Jen · « **Reply #7 on:** October 20, 2014, 08:43:54 pm »

Gyspi- "I've only squished 2 so far, one I wasted and lost, another I smeared on the front of her replacement's cage

That just hit my funny bone !!

K, Now here is a question I think we need to be sure of. I can understand that after mating she would have her pheromones. As usual I'm sitting at my computer staring out the big window and imagining this:

New queen hatches, no pheromones present. The drones are down the street at the football field having a brew and watch the game and waiting for queens to fly up and say "Hey There Big Boy, Why Don't You Come Up And See Me Sometime." How are they going to know there is a ready queen out there if she doesn't put out a scent?

Does she search the drones out? Or, do the drones search her out? I think it's the later... I'll look in my Bee Biology book

iddee · « **Reply #8 on:** October 20, 2014, 09:03:50 pm »

The football field is called a DCA. "drone congregating area". She goes to the field and has no problem finding about 20 "players".

Jen · « **Reply #9 on:** October 20, 2014, 09:15:22 pm »

Mkay, so do you know Iddee if the queen needs to be mated before she has pheromones?

iddee · « **Reply #10 on:** October 20, 2014, 09:20:05 pm »

Only a thought, with no background. I would think she does have, but that it increases greatly after mating and laying has begun. I think all bees have pheromones, maybe different ones, and at different levels. Maybe even at different times.

Jen · « **Reply #11 on:** October 20, 2014, 09:37:12 pm »

I'm thinking that as well, that maybe she's born with the scent she's going to carry, then after mating it gets stronger.. or something like that.

So in fact, I don't know if these queens I have in the alcohol have enough pheromone to attract a swarm then... ?

iddee · « **Reply #12 on:** October 20, 2014, 09:49:43 pm »

Along with a couple drops of lemongrass oil, I'm sure it would not hurt. You either win or break even. Good odds, in my opinion.

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #13 on:** October 20, 2014, 10:53:06 pm »

I am quite certain they DO have a pheromone before mating, but it is not as prevalent. As Iddee said, put a couple drops of lemongrass oil int hat jar and I would use that over pure lemongrass lure every day of the year.

Yankee11 · « **Reply #14 on:** October 20, 2014, 11:02:57 pm »

"New queen hatches, no pheromones present. The drones are down the street at the football field having a brew and watch the game and waiting for queens to fly up and say "Hey There Big Boy, Why Don't You Come Up And See Me Sometime." How are they going to know there is a ready queen out there if she doesn't put out a scent? "

Who is playing would determine how strong the scent would have to be.

It's football.

Jen · « **Reply #15 on:** October 20, 2014, 11:18:49 pm »

Ahahahha! Doh! Silly ME!

Gypsi · « **Reply #16 on:** October 20, 2014, 11:34:54 pm »

Just remember a queen in the jar is worth 3 in the bush

riverbee · « **Reply #17 on:** October 20, 2014, 11:42:35 pm »

just my HO, a mated queen as iddee and yankee has said, not a virgin or unmated queen. the pheromones from a mated queen are much greater or more prevalent.

although i have never used dead queens preserved in whatever, i think in terms of how bees recognize queens. a virgin or unmated queen runs around the hive with no recognition or retinue. once that queen is mated, she is the ultimate center of attention and her pheromones quickly gets a hive in order.

Gypsi · « **Reply #18 on:** October 21, 2014, 02:14:50 am »

That's what I thought Riverbee

lazy shooter · « **Reply #19 on:** October 21, 2014, 10:59:51 am »

Jen:

I love you like a sister, and even though I am from the oil patch, that jar of queen parts is nasty looking, think, "gag a maggot."

I think I will ask Lborou to keep queen soup and bring some over when I need it.

Author Topic: What Is The Purpose Of Preserving Dead Queens In Alcohol? (Read 7410 times)

Gypsi

Gypsi

Gypsi