When it comes to beekeeping, finding and buying high-quality queen bees is essential for the success of your beehives. Whether you are a seasoned beekeeper or just starting out, having a reliable supplier that offers top-notch queen bees is crucial.
At Wildflower Meadows, we understand the importance of sourcing the best queen bees. That’s why we specialize in providing VSH-Italian queen bees that are carefully bred for mite resistance, gentleness, and rapid spring buildup. Our bees have the Varroa Sensitive Hygiene (VSH) trait, which helps maintain healthy mite populations and minimizes the need for chemical treatments.
Mann Lake is another reputable supplier that offers a wide selection of queen bees for sale. From Florida-Raised Italian to OHB Carniolan, Southern Bred Russian Hybrid to OHB Saskatraz, they have various types of queen bees to cater to different beekeepers’ needs.
API Holdings LLC is also a top breeder known for providing Italian Hygienic, Cordovan, and Carniolan queen bees. Whether you need bees for beekeeping or crop pollination, API Holdings LLC has got you covered.
Key Takeaways:
- Buying high-quality queen bees is crucial for successful beekeeping.
- Wildflower Meadows offers VSH-Italian queen bees bred for mite resistance and rapid spring buildup.
- Mann Lake provides a variety of queen bees, including Florida-Raised Italian and OHB Carniolan.
- API Holdings LLC offers Italian Hygienic, Cordovan, and Carniolan queen bees for beekeeping or crop pollination.
- Choose a reputable supplier for the best queen bees and ensure the success of your beehives.
Wildflower Meadows VSH-Italian Queen Bees
Wildflower Meadows specializes in breeding VSH-Italian queen bees, renowned for their mite resistance, gentleness, and rapid spring buildup. These bees are exclusively bred from instrumentally inseminated VSH breeders, ensuring the highest quality genetics. The Varroa Sensitive Hygiene (VSH) trait, which originated from USDA stock in Louisiana, allows these bees to detect and remove varroa mite-infested pupae, helping to control mite populations and reducing the need for chemical treatments.
One of the remarkable qualities of Wildflower Meadows VSH-Italian queen bees is their excellent natural resistance against American Foulbrood and Chalkbrood, two common diseases that can devastate bee colonies. By selecting and breeding for mite resistance and disease resistance, these queen bees ensure the health and vitality of the bee colony, leading to stronger and more productive hives.
Superior Genetics and Performance
The breeding program at Wildflower Meadows focuses on producing VSH-Italian queen bees with superior genetics and performance. Through careful selection and breeding techniques, the company has created a line of queen bees that consistently demonstrate resistance to mites, gentleness, and rapid spring buildup.
| Key Features of VSH-Italian Queen Bees: |
|---|
| 1. Mite resistance |
| 2. Gentleness |
| 3. Rapid spring buildup |
“Our VSH-Italian queen bees have been carefully bred for specific traits that make them highly desirable for beekeepers. Their resistance to mites and excellent spring buildup ensures healthy and productive hives.”
When purchasing queen bees, it’s important to choose a reliable supplier like Wildflower Meadows that prioritizes genetics and performance to ensure the success of your beekeeping endeavors.
Mann Lake Queen Bees for Sale
Looking to buy queen bees? Mann Lake is a reputable supplier offering various types of queen bees for sale. Whether you’re a beginner beekeeper or an experienced one, Mann Lake has a wide selection of queen bees to meet your needs.
Here are some of the queen bee varieties available from Mann Lake:
| Queen Bee Variety | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Florida-Raised Italian | Honey production, adaptability to different climates |
| OHB Carniolan | Winter hardiness, high yields, resistance to tracheal mites |
| Southern Bred Russian Hybrid | Productivity of Italian drones, wintering capabilities of Russian queens |
| OHB Saskatraz | High yields, good temperament, pest resistance, wintering ability |
| OHB Italian | Gentleness, ease of management, Varroa Sensitive Hygiene trait for mite resistance |
| Florida-Raised Carniolan | Increased spring brood production, rich honey flow promotion |
Mann Lake queen bees are known for their quality and are sourced from reliable breeding programs. Each variety has its own unique qualities and benefits, ensuring that beekeepers can find the right queen bees to support their hives’ success.
API Holdings LLC Queen Bees Online
When it comes to purchasing queen bees online, API Holdings LLC is a top choice for beekeepers and crop pollinators. API Holdings offers a variety of high-quality queen bees, including Italian Hygienic, Cordovan, and Carniolan breeds. These queen bees are known for their unique characteristics and benefits, making them valuable additions to any beekeeping operation.
Italian Hygienic queen bees from API Holdings are bred for bee pollination and boast a high degree of hygienic behavior. This trait enables them to combat brood infestations, providing a healthier and more productive colony. Carniolan queen bees, on the other hand, are gentle and prolific dark/black honey bee varieties. They are known for their excellent honey production and adaptability to different climates.
Cordovan queen bees, popular in North America, are gentle and excellent honey producers. They have distinctive bands on their abdomen, making them visually unique. Like the Italian Hygienic and Carniolan breeds, Cordovan queen bees are well-suited to both southern and northern climates. Regardless of the breed you choose, you can expect high-quality queen bees from API Holdings.
Table: Comparison of API Holdings Queen Bee Breeds
| Queen Bee Breed | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Italian Hygienic | High degree of hygienic behavior, ideal for bee pollination and honey production |
| Carniolan | Gentle, prolific dark/black honey bee variety, adaptable to different climates |
| Cordovan | Gentle, excellent honey producer, distinctive abdomen bands, suitable for both southern and northern climates |
At API Holdings LLC, you can trust that the queen bees you order online will be of the highest quality. The company takes pride in its selection of premium queen bees and ensures that the mated queens are shipped the same day they are pulled from the bee mating box. With API Holdings, you can have confidence in the health and productivity of your bee colonies.
Queen Bee Online Ordering Information
When it comes to purchasing queen bees online, it’s essential to understand the ordering process. Whether you’re a beekeeper or require queen bees for crop pollination, having the right information can make the transaction smooth and efficient. This section provides an overview of the online ordering process for queen bees from API Holdings LLC and Mann Lake.
API Holdings LLC
API Holdings LLC requires a minimum order of 5 or more mated queens. To check the availability of queens, customers can refer to the Queen Bee Availability Calendar on their website. It is important to note that full payment is required at the time of the order. API Holdings offers multiple payment options, including PayPal, Visa/Mastercard, and check/money order.
Mann Lake
When ordering queen bees from Mann Lake, customers have the convenience of choosing between shipping and pickup options. The specific ordering process can be found on their website, ensuring a seamless experience for beekeepers seeking high-quality queen bees.
Remember, understanding the ordering process and payment options is crucial when buying queen bees online. Whether you choose API Holdings or Mann Lake, ensure that you have all the necessary information and requirements to make your purchase successful.
| Supplier | Minimum Order | Payment Options |
|---|---|---|
| API Holdings LLC | 5 or more mated queens | PayPal, Visa/Mastercard, check/money order |
| Mann Lake | Varies | Varies |
Quality Queen Bees from API Holdings
API Holdings LLC is renowned for providing beekeepers and crop pollinators with high-quality queen bees. With a focus on breeding Italian Hygienic, Carniolan, and Cordovan queen bees, API Holdings ensures that their customers receive bees with exceptional traits and characteristics.
The Italian Hygienic queen bees from API Holdings are specifically bred for effective bee pollination and high honey production. These bees are known for their hygienic behavior, which helps combat brood infestations and keeps the hive healthy. With their excellent honey-producing abilities, Italian Hygienic queen bees from API Holdings are a top choice for beekeepers looking for robust and productive colonies.
Carniolan queen bees, on the other hand, are gentle and prolific dark-colored honey bee varieties. These bees are highly regarded for their excellent honey production and ability to thrive in northern climates. API Holdings offers Carniolan queen bees that are known for their quality and performance, making them a preferred option for beekeepers looking to establish strong and resilient colonies.
Lastly, API Holdings is well-known for its Cordovan queen bees, which are the most popular variety in North America. Cordovan queen bees are gentle, good honey producers, and have distinctive bands on their abdomen, making them easily recognizable. These bees can thrive in both southern and northern climates, making them a versatile choice for beekeepers across different regions.
API Holdings’ Rearing and Breeding Process
API Holdings LLC takes pride in its meticulous rearing and breeding process to ensure the production of high-quality queen bees. Recognizing the decline in the quality of queens purchased from outside sources, API Holdings decided to establish its own in-house queen bee rearing operation. To achieve this, API Holdings procured queen cell stock from Glen Apiaries, selecting breeds such as VHS, Minnesota Hygienic Italian, Cariniolan Italian, Cardovan Italian, and Russian, which are renowned for their desirable traits.
The process begins by allowing the virgin queen to lay eggs for a period of ten days while being fed royal jelly. This specific duration and nourishment contribute to the development of premium mated queen bees. By using this technique, API Holdings ensures that the queens receive a proper maturation cycle, resulting in long-living and high-quality queen bees for the colonies.
Benefits of API Holdings’ Rearing and Breeding Process
- The in-house rearing and breeding process allows API Holdings to have complete control over the quality and genetics of their queen bees.
- The selection of specific breeds from Glen Apiaries ensures that only the most desirable traits are passed on to the offspring.
- By focusing on the gestation and maturation of the queens within their own facility, API Holdings can monitor and guarantee the health and vitality of their queen bees.
- API Holdings’ commitment to rearing and breeding their own queen bees reflects their dedication to providing their customers with top-quality bees for their hives or crop pollination needs.
Through their rearing and breeding process, API Holdings is able to offer Italian Hygienic, Cordovan, Carniolan, and other high-quality queen bees for beekeeping and crop pollination purposes. Their adherence to rigorous breeding standards ensures that their customers have access to unbeatable genetic stock that will contribute to productive and successful colonies.
| Breed | Traits |
|---|---|
| Italian Hygienic | High degree of hygienic behavior, effective against diseases such as foulbrood and chalkbrood. |
| Carniolan | Gentle temperament, excellent honey production, and adaptability to thrive in northern climates. |
| Cordovan | Gentle temperament, good honey producers, can survive in both southern and northern climates. |
API Holdings’ commitment to rearing and breeding their own queen bees sets them apart as a reliable supplier of top-quality queen bees for beekeeping and crop pollination purposes. Their meticulous process ensures that each queen bee they produce possesses the desirable traits and genetics necessary for a thriving colony.
Virgin Queen Bees and Queen Cells
When it comes to buying queen bees, beekeepers have the option of purchasing either virgin queen bees or queen cells. Virgin queen bees are newly mated and ready to lay eggs, while queen cells are the developing stages of queen bees. Both options have their advantages and disadvantages, and it’s important for beekeepers to consider their specific needs and circumstances before making a decision.
Shipping options for queen cells can be challenging due to their fragile nature in the last stage of development. Therefore, it is generally recommended to pick up queen cells directly from the supplier to ensure their quality and viability. On the other hand, if beekeepers are ready for a queen to be introduced into a queenless hive, they can choose to have overnight delivery of virgin queen bees. However, it is crucial that the worker drones are ready for her arrival to ensure successful mating.
The advantage of choosing virgin queen bees is that beekeepers can directly assess the quality, health, and size of the queen. This allows them to make informed decisions about the suitability of the queen for their colony. However, a disadvantage of using virgin queen bees is that the hive must be queenless and have male drones available for mating. Additionally, there is always a risk that the queen may not successfully hatch or may die before taking a mating flight.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
|
|
“Choosing between virgin queen bees and queen cells depends on several factors, including the beekeeper’s experience, timing, and the specific needs of the colony. It’s important to carefully evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of each option to make an informed decision.”
Overall, both virgin queen bees and queen cells offer beekeepers the opportunity to introduce new queens into their colonies. The choice between the two ultimately depends on the beekeeper’s preferences, experience, and the specific requirements of their colonies. By understanding the advantages and disadvantages of each option, beekeepers can make a well-informed decision that will contribute to the success of their beekeeping endeavors.
Advantages of API Mated Queens
When it comes to sourcing high-quality queen bees, API Holdings LLC stands out as a reputable supplier. Their mated queens offer several advantages that contribute to the overall success of bee colonies. Unlike commercial queen breeders who “bank” the queens in boxes, API Holdings takes a different approach. They pull the mated queen from the bee mating box on the same day of shipping, ensuring the queen’s proper maturation cycle. This attention to detail results in long-living and high-quality queen bees, which are essential for the productivity and health of the colony.
By using a specially designed universal Bee Mating Box, API Holdings allows the queen ten days to develop into a good honey-producing queen for the bee colony. This extended period of development is crucial for the queen’s overall quality and ability to contribute to the long-term success of the hive. The mated queens from API Holdings exhibit desirable traits such as hygienic behavior, high honey production, gentleness, and adaptability to various climates, depending on the chosen breed.
“The mated queens from API Holdings are carefully selected and bred to meet the highest standards of quality and performance. These queens have proven to be resilient against common beekeeping challenges such as varroa mites, foulbrood, and chalkbrood. By purchasing mated queens from API Holdings, beekeepers can ensure the continued health and productivity of their hives.”
Overall, choosing API Holdings for mated queens guarantees beekeepers access to well-developed, top-quality queens that will enhance the overall vitality of their colonies. With traits such as hygienic behavior, adaptability, high honey production, and resistance to common hive ailments, API mated queens provide the essential foundation for successful beekeeping.
| Advantages of API Mated Queens | Breed |
|---|---|
| Hygienic behavior | Italian Hygienic |
| High honey production | Carniolan |
| Gentleness | Cordovan |
| Adaptability to various climates | Depends on breed |
Advantages in Summary:
- High-quality queens with proper maturation cycles
- Hygienic behavior and resistance to common hive ailments
- High honey production, resulting in productive colonies
- Gentle temperament for easy hive management
- Adaptability to various climates for widespread use
Conclusion
Buying queen bees online can be a convenient way to source high-quality bees for your beehives or crop pollination needs. Suppliers like Wildflower Meadows, Mann Lake, and API Holdings LLC offer various types of queen bees, each with their own unique qualities and benefits.
Whether you’re looking for VSH-Italian, Carniolan, or Cordovan queen bees, it’s important to choose a reputable supplier that prioritizes quality and mite resistance. Wildflower Meadows specializes in VSH-Italian queen bees that are bred for mite resistance, gentleness, and rapid spring buildup. Mann Lake offers a variety of queen bees, including Florida-Raised Italian, OHB Carniolan, Southern Bred Russian Hybrid, OHB Saskatraz, OHB Italian, and Florida-Raised Carniolan. API Holdings LLC provides Italian Hygienic, Cordovan, and Carniolan queen bees for beekeeping or crop pollination.
By selecting the right queen bees from a trusted supplier, you can ensure the success and productivity of your beehives. Whether you prioritize mite resistance, honey production, gentleness, or adaptability to different climates, these suppliers offer a range of options to meet your specific requirements. Start your beekeeping journey today and experience the rewards of nurturing a thriving bee colony.
FAQ
What should I look for when buying a queen bee?
When buying a queen bee, it’s important to find a reliable supplier who offers high-quality bees. Look for suppliers that prioritize mite resistance, gentleness, and rapid spring buildup in their queen bees.
What is VSH-Italian queen bee?
VSH-Italian queen bees are bred for mite resistance, gentleness, and rapid spring buildup. They have the Varroa Sensitive Hygiene (VSH) trait, which helps keep mite populations in check and reduces the need for chemical treatments.
What types of queen bees does Mann Lake offer?
Mann Lake offers various types of queen bees, including Florida-Raised Italian, OHB Carniolan, Southern Bred Russian Hybrid, OHB Saskatraz, OHB Italian, and Florida-Raised Carniolan.
What types of queen bees does API Holdings LLC provide?
API Holdings LLC provides Italian Hygienic, Cordovan, and Carniolan queen bees for beekeeping or crop pollination.
How can I order queen bees online?
The ordering process for queen bees varies by supplier. API Holdings LLC has a minimum order requirement of 5 or more mated queens and offers payment options such as PayPal, Visa/Mastercard, or check/money order. Mann Lake provides information on their website on how to order queen bees, offering shipping and pickup options.
What are the advantages of API Holdings’ queen bees?
API Holdings’ queen bees are known for their quality and longevity. Unlike commercial queen breeders who “bank” the queens in boxes, API Holdings pulls the mated queen from the bee mating box on the same day of shipping, ensuring a long-living and high-quality queen bee.
What is the process of rearing and breeding queen bees at API Holdings?
API Holdings has its own in-house queen bee rearing operation. They use queen cell stock from select breeds and allow the virgin queen to lay eggs for 10 days while feeding on royal jelly, resulting in premium mated queen bees.
What are virgin queen bees and queen cells?
Virgin queen bees are unmated queens that allow beekeepers to assess their quality, health, and size. Queen cells are fragile in the last stage of development and may be challenging to ship, making pick-up the recommended option for high-quality cells.
What are the advantages of API Holdings’ mated queens?
API Holdings’ mated queens are pulled from the bee mating box on the same day of shipping, ensuring proper maturation and resulting in high-quality and long-living queen bees.
How can I ensure the success of using virgin queen bees?
To successfully use virgin queen bees, a queenless hive must be ready for her, and male drones must be available for mating. Virgin queen bees can be placed directly in a drone-ready bee box without the risk of not hatching or dying.
