QUEEN BEES
Italian Queen
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Beginner favorite!
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Calm and docile
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Low to moderate propolis producers
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Excellent honey production
Russian-Carniolan Queen
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Hearty, overwinter well in cooler climates
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Excellent foragers in varied regions
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High propolis producers
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Moderate honey production
Carniolan Queen
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Winter hardy with rapid spring build up
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Gentle temperament
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Low propolis producers
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Excellent honey production
Honey Bee Genetics queens are all selected for VSH traits and resistance to brood disease.
Each queen is hand picked for strong, hygienic behaviors.
All queens are available with the option to be marked and/or vaccinated.
PACKAGES
Our quality starter hive packages come with 3lb of bees and a marked, mated queen to get your new hive started with success.
Starter packages are intended for immediate placement in a permanent hive box. For beginner beekeepers, we recommend starting with 2 packages for optimal success.
5-FRAME NUCS
Nucleus hives, or nucs, come with a laying queen and 5 deep frames with a combination of brood, nectar, pollen and some space for expansion. Because there is brood present and young bees emerging, nucs build up more quickly than packages and will need to be transferred into a full size deep hive box.
Why VSH genetics matter:
Building Healthier Bees Through Better Genetics
At Honey bee Genetics, we believe that strong colonies start with strong genetics. One of the important traits we value in our breeding program is Varroa Sensitive Hygiene (VSH).
VSH is a naturally occurring honeybee trait that helps colonies detect and remove brood infested with reproducing Varroa mites.
What Is Varroa Sensitive Hygiene?
Once detected, worker bees may uncap the affected cells and remove the developing brood, interrupting the reproductive cycle of some Varroa mites.
This behavior helps reduce successful mite reproduction within the colony.
How Does VSH Behavior Help?
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Detect brood cells containing reproducing Varroa mites.
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Uncap cells containing affected developing brood.
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Remove infested brood, disrupting mite reproduction.
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Help limit the buildup of Varroa populations within the colony.
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Why We Select for VSH Genetics
By incorporating VSH traits into our breeding program, we aim to raise queens that contribute to colonies with improved natural hygienic behavior and greater ability to manage Varroa pressure.
Our goal is to support beekeepers with productive, resilient honeybees while continuing to improve the genetics we offer.
Better genetics. Healthier colonies. A stronger future for beekeeping.
At Honeybee Genetics, we believe selecting for beneficial traits is an important part of responsible honeybee breeding. Honeybees have remarkable natural defense behaviors. Through hygienic activity, worker bees can: Varroa Sensitive Hygiene is a heritable behavioral trait in honeybees. Worker bees with this trait are better able to recognize changes associated with Varroa-infested brood cells.
Varroa mites are one of the greatest challenges facing honeybee colonies. These parasitic mites reproduce within developing brood cells, weakening developing bees and contributing to the spread of harmful viruses.