14 : Mating Nuclei Transferring a Queen Cell into a Mini-nuc This sequence shows the transfer into an Apidea-type mini-nuc. The steps are identical whichever type of mini-nuc you decide to use.
1 Make sure everything is to hand by the cell-raising unit. The mini-nuc entrance must be closed and the ventilation underneath open. Have two frames with drawn comb and two with foundation ready plus the inner cover and roof. Place the container of dry sugar, dampened with a mist spray of water, in place at the back.
2 Open the hive to get the queen cell and also the bees to stock the mini-nuc. 3 Push the sealed queen cell into the drawn comb on one of the frames. Queen cells with a thick wax base make this task easier. First make a dent with the thumb. The cell will stick best if the comb is warm. (If it falls off, the bees will ignore it and the virgin will be lost.)
4 Place the frame with the attached cell in the mini-nuc (here an Apidea type), at the back by the food. 5 Shake the queenless bees from the cell finisher into the catcher box (a gentle spray of water helps to calm the bees). 6 Bump the bees into the corner of the box and then tip them into the gap in between the frames in the mini-nuc. 7 Add the two missing frames (these here have rather more foundation in the frame than I would use). 8 Add the inner cover. 9 Close the mini-nuc with the roof.
The bees and queen cell can now be taken away to the mating apiary. 1
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www.bee-craft.com
May 2015 Vol 97 No 5
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