FRUITABLE QUEEN BEES: BREEDING AND SALE

Fertile queen bees are capable of laying thousands of eggs per day. The survival of the hive depends solely on this incessant production by the queen. Queen bees are the only individuals in the entire hive capable of procreating. Their reproductive system differs from that of other bees precisely because egg laying is the only task assigned to queens.

The breeding and sale of fertile bees is a notable feature of Apicoltura Laterza which has been operating in the beekeeping sector for about 40 years. The experience has allowed us to be spectators of the life of these wonderful animals. In fact, bees live around precise but very complex natural instincts.

Let's analyze the various stages that characterize the fertilization process of queen bees.

How and when does fertilization take place

The fertilization of the queen bee is a long awaited moment for the whole hive. The euphoria for the mating of the queen is motivated by the fact that the queen bees mate only once during their entire existence. Yes, it may seem strange to you but a queen lives her entire life in a beehive and never goes outside. Fertilization is an exceptional event in which the queen leaves the hive.

When this moment comes, the queen goes on a long flight with the drones called "Nuptial Flight". This process takes place about ten days after the birth of a queen bee. In fact, after just over a week, the queen is already considered ripe for mating.

Before the nuptial flight, the queen bee is unable to fly. In the phase preceding the execution of the flight, the queen bee is urged by her workers to go outside. Very often the young queen is so frightened that the worker bees give her little pushes to entice her to go out. Once outside, the queen bee carries out short flight tests precisely because it has never used her wings before this occasion. These flight tests of the queen bee are called "orientation flights".

Following the flight tests, the queens become stronger and more handsome to support the nuptial flight.

What is the wedding flight

The nuptial flight is therefore a long-awaited moment in which a virgin queen will finally become a fruitful bee. The nuptial flight takes place in a meeting point that can be several kilometers away from the hive. Before gathering the queen, ready for mating, she emits particular substances called pheromones. Pheromones are hormones that can be perceived at the olfactory level by all drones that are also found at long distances. Once the drones have been recalled, they will go to a precise point where the nuptial flight will take place.

In beekeeping, the nuptial flight means precisely the mating of the queen bee still virgin with all the drones in the hive. In the hottest hours of the day, the queen bee takes off and is chased by all the drones. Only the strongest of her will be able to reach her flight height and will mate with her in turn, losing their lives immediately after the act </ p>

After copulation, all drones without exception die. However, the queen has now stored their sperm in her internal sacs, the so-called spermathecae, to use it later in the course of her life to fertilize the eggs. </ P>

A single copulation event will allow the queen to store enough semen that she can produce fertilized eggs for the rest of her life. It is precisely for this reason that bees pay particular attention and fervor towards this moment in the life of a queen.

Buckfast and Ligustices fertile queen bees

Apicoltura Laterza produces fertile queen bees of Buckfast and Ligustica breeds. Our bees are carefully selected. It is important to buy bees that have a good genetic profile. We take care to maximize every positive quality of our bees by always selecting individuals with better genetic characteristics.

You can purchase virgin and fertile queen bees according to the needs of your farm. It is important to remember that the Buckfast and Ligustices fertile bees are some of the breeds most sought after by beekeepers because of their excellent characteristics such as good productivity, low tendency to swarm and good physical resistance to temperatures and parasites.

Buy fertile bees

For the purchase of fertile bees , Apicoltura Laterza allows you to order your bees directly online.

To view the Queen Bees category click here

We have been in this business for about forty years. Our shipments are highly professional. The bees are shipped inside special containers that allow them to have the right space and the right ventilation. We ship through special refrigerated cells capable of maintaining a constant and always optimal temperature for bees. You will receive your fertile bees in full force along with a health certificate attesting to their excellent health conditions.

Are you interested? Buy your queen bees now or contact us! To view product availability in real time, click here.