Cell cups are the small vessels into which larvae are grafted. They imitate the beginning of a natural queen cell.

Wax or plastic

• Wax: Well accepted, and can be made yourself by dipping a wooden former in molten wax. Single use
• Plastic: Reusable and dimensionally consistent, available in standard sizes

The decisive point with plastic

Plastic cups are considerably better accepted after they have hung in the colony for a short period first.

The bees clean them and they take on the nest odour. A cup straight from the packaging smells foreign and is more often rejected.

This is the commonest cause of low acceptance among beginners.

The size

The internal size must match the base of a natural queen cell. Too wide and the larva does not lie properly; too narrow and the bees draw the cell crooked.

Mounting

The cups sit on a bar, usually detachable. Detachable holders are practical: at harvest or transfer the whole cell is lifted off with its holder without being touched.

Hygiene

• Plastic takes up smells; store clean and separately
• Leave no detergent residue
• Do not let it contact chemicals, fuel or paint
• Remove wax and propolis after each round

Making wax cups yourself

A wooden dowel is cooled in water and repeatedly dipped in molten wax. Use clean wax — preferably cappings wax, the cleanest source there is.

Wax carrying residues is unsuitable for this purpose: the larva lies directly in it.

Practical point

Keep more cups in stock than you think you need. Poorly drawn cells are discarded, and a round started with too few cups starts short.