Practice Abstract - Research and innovation
Selecting queens for disease resistance and better adaptation to local climatic conditions
The selection of queens is indispensable for having strong and resilient, viable colonies as well as ensuring higher productivity:
- Observe the hives by assessing their health status and the seasonal trends to decide from which to take larvae for the rearing of new queens.
- Choose colonies that show no symptoms of disease.
- Choose the colony that show the best hygienic behaviour, evaluating it with the pin-test technique.
- Choose colonies that show good adaptation to environmental challenges, with special focus on winter stock consumption, spring recovery speed, and swarming tendency.
Once the colonies having the desired characteristics have been selected, ensure an adequate production of drones.
Warnings: May depend on the regulations in force in the given country.
Please check out the B-THENET Platform for the Best Beekeeping Practices tailored to each country, co-developed with practicing beekeepers in the National B-THENET Centres of those countries (Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden).
Source Project
Ongoing | 2022-2026
BEST PRACTICES AND INNOVATIONS FOR A SUSTAINABLE BEEKEEPING
Ongoing | 2022-2026
- Main funding source
- Horizon Europe (EU Research and Innovation Programme)
- Geographical location
- Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden