The honeybees in the apiary are all derived from carniolan stocks, the sub-species known as Apis melifera carnica. While strains vary, they are a good bee in cool or temperate climates, known for economical wintering, docility, and very rapid, early, colony growth. Less favourably, they are often criticised for being prone to swarm. Queen rearing begins with breeder queens purchased from renowned breeders and housed in five frame nuclei. Larvae from these nuclei are grafted, and queens cells produced in cell-building colonies in the main apiary. Keiler mini-nucs are made up using around 300ml-350ml of shaken bees and a sealed cell, and these are placed out for mating for two to three weeks until sealed brood can be seen. The queens are then caught, marked, and sold or made up into nucs as required. As the largest apiary in the area by far, and thus the largest supplier of drones, we can be reasonably sure that a good proportion of the virgins will mate with drones from our carniolan colonies, but in coming years it is a supposition we should test by measuring cubital index or the like. Because it isn't a closed mating, some selection from the laying queens is still required.

(Cont.)