WILBANKS APIARIES 3lb. Bee Package
 
3% Discount if paid by check using our printable form.
 
Pick up dates: 
April 18th from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
April 19th from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
(For later pickup dates, please make arrangements with Mark.)
 
Wilbanks Apiaries has VP Queens genetic stock. These honey bees have varroa mite resistant genetics and are slightly more expensive. As a result, these bees are generally able to cope more effectively with varroa mites.

VP Queens states, “We’ve been working on our bee breeding program for 27 years. We’ve specialized on maintaining hardy and productive varroa mite resistant stock; no mite treatments have ever been used in our operation. We use artificial insemination to control matings, enabling us to make breeding decisions by making calculated and planned crosses.” For more information go to https://vpqueenbees.com/vp-breeding-program/vp-bee-breeding.

All Wilbanks package bees include the VHS pole line 2.2 Italian queens which are selected and bread for mite resistance and have proven to be highly productive with all of the desirable traits needed for the commercial and hobby beekeeper.

The package queen is delivered in a Benton queen cage along with several workers to feed her. New queens can be difficult for bees to accept so queen acceptance cannot be guaranteed. The caged queen in the package has just been placed in the package with bees that are new to her. Because they are unrelated and foreign to each other, the worker bees have not accepted her yet. For the greatest chance of queen acceptance when introducing a caged queen; after placing the queen cage in the hive with the honey bees allow her to remain in the cage for 5 days with both ends corked. After that remove the cage from the hive and verify that the queen is alive. If your new queen is dead in the cage return the unopened cage with the dead queen for a replacement queen. DO NOT open the cage or remove the dead queen. Replacement queens will not be provided for open queen cages with no queen.

If the queen is alive remove the cork at the candy end and poke a narrow shaft hole into the candy. Return the cage to the hive with the exposed candy end facing up so the workers can chew out the candy and release her when the hive is closed.
 
Please note: All orders must be picked up in person during the designated dates and times. If you are unable to pick up your package, you may designate a secondary party to do so on your behalf. Make sure they bring a copy of your order confirmation for verification.

Occasionally a rouge queen is accidently packaged along with the worker bees. After 5 days double check to make sure there is no other queen among the bees or eggs in the honey comb laid by a loose queen. If there is a loose queen the worker bees will never accept the caged queen and will kill her once they have access to her. In that case, if possible please return the queen to Honey Hill Farm.

After double checking for a loose queen remove the cork or metal disk protecting the candy. Then poke a narrow shaft hole into the candy. Return the cage to the hive with the exposed candy end facing up so the workers can chew out the candy and release her when the hive is closed. Allow the workers to chew through the candy to release her. This gradual method of release produces a higher rate of queen acceptance. After 2 days check to make sure the queen is out of the cage. If so, remove the queenless cage. Workers will probably be in the cage so tuck the cage into the hive entrance with the opening facing in to allow them to escape.

If the candy has not been eaten through, check for a loose queen again. Finding none and no sign of one, pull the cork on the end of the cage without queen candy, cover it with your thumb or finger, and return the queen cage to the hive. Then check the cage again in 24 hours. There will be bees in the cage so place it just inside the hive entrance allowing the worker bees to escape.