Queen rearing uses a small amount of material that must be handled carefully. Most of it is cheap; what determines the result is cleanliness and timing rather than the material itself.

Cups

• Plastic cups: Reusable and of standard size. They hold smells and must be stored clean
• Beeswax cups: More readily accepted by the bees. Single use, and making them takes effort

Wax cups are made by dipping a former into molten wax. The wax used must be clean and free of residues.

Bars and holders

Cups are set on a bar and the bar into a frame. Removable bars allow work during harvest without disturbing the frame.

Rotating holders make it easier to set the angle of the cup.

Grafting tool

Flexible-tipped, plunger and feather-tipped types exist; the choice is a matter of habit.

What matters is that the tip slides easily under the larva and lifts the brood food with it.

Light and magnification

A day-old larva is very small. Strong, direct lighting is the most useful aid in grafting.

A magnifying headset is a practical solution for anyone with difficulty seeing.

Protection from drying and chilling

A larva dries out and dies within minutes. During grafting:

• Work in a cool, shaded, draught-free place
• Cover the waiting bar with a damp cloth
• A drop of diluted royal jelly in the base of the cup delays drying

Cages

• Protection cage: Protects a mature cell until emergence
• Travel cage: Carries the queen with attendants
• Introduction cage: For acclimatising her to a colony

Cleanliness — the critical point

All of this material comes into direct contact with larvae and queens.

• Plastic parts hold smells; no detergent residue should be left
• They must not come into contact with chemicals
• Unused material should be stored closed and clean
• Material carrying an odour lowers the acceptance rate directly