The grafting tool transfers a young larva with her brood food into a cell cup. It is the instrument that most strongly determines queen quality.

Why the tool matters

What determines quality is the age of the larva. The younger, the better.

A very young larva is small and fragile. She must be lifted without being turned, pressed or separated from her brood food — and that requires the right tool.

The types

• Chinese grafting tool: A thin flexible tongue with a plunger to release the larva. It carries the brood food along, which improves acceptance
• Metal tool: Simple and durable; requires more skill
• Plastic tool: Gentle on the larva, inexpensive

The technique

• Slide the tongue along the cell wall under the larva, not onto her
• Take the brood food with her; she must not be transferred dry
• Place her in the cup in the same orientation; do not turn her over
• Work quickly; exposure to air and light dries the larva out

Light is half the tool

To choose the youngest larvae you must see them. A strong, cool light source is therefore not a luxury but the instrument that determines the outcome.

Cool, because heat from the lamp dries the larvae.

Conditions

• Work out of wind and sun
• Not in a cold room; chilling causes lasting damage
• Some humidity helps against drying
• Keep the time between removal and return short

Hygiene

Store the tool clean and dry, with no detergent residue and no contact with chemicals. A tool that smells of something lowers acceptance.

For those who cannot manage it

Systems exist in which the queen lays in a cassette and the cell bases are transferred with the larvae still in them. They require no grafting skill but more planning.