A bee package is a carefully designed container used to safely transport honey bees to a new hive location. It consists of a ventilated wooden frame box containing a specific quantity of bees (typically measured by weight), a food source for transit, and a separate compartment for the queen bee. This system allows beekeepers to establish new colonies or replenish existing ones while ensuring the bees' survival during transportation.
Key Points Explained:
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Structural Components:
- The primary container is a wooden frame box with screened sides for ventilation
- Dimensions are standardized to hold a specific bee population (usually 2-5 pounds of bees)
- The screen mesh allows airflow while preventing bee escape during transit
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Bee Population:
- Contains approximately 3,500 bees per pound of weight
- Typically includes worker bees of various ages
- The bees are not from an established colony but are gathered specifically for packaging
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Nutritional Support:
- Includes a feeding can filled with sugar syrup (typically a 1:1 ratio of sugar to water)
- The syrup provides essential carbohydrates during transportation
- The can has small perforations allowing bees to access the syrup gradually
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Queen Bee Compartment:
- A separate small wooden box houses the queen with 5-10 attendant worker bees
- The queen cage often includes a candy plug that workers will eat through to release the queen
- This separation prevents the queen from being harmed during transit while allowing her pheromones to spread
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Integration with bee box:
- The package is designed for temporary transport before bees are transferred to a permanent hive
- Beekeepers typically shake the bees from the package into their new hive structure
- The queen is usually introduced separately to ensure proper acceptance by the colony
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Purpose and Use:
- Primarily used to establish new colonies or strengthen weak ones
- Allows for genetic diversity in apiaries
- Provides a way to replace lost queens or increase hive populations
The design balances bee safety, ventilation, and nutrition during what can be stressful transportation periods. Modern packages have evolved from earlier methods to maximize survival rates while minimizing stress on the bees.
Summary Table:
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Container | Ventilated wooden frame box with screened sides for airflow and containment |
| Bee Population | 3,500 bees per pound, typically 2-5 pounds of worker bees |
| Nutritional Support | Feeding can with sugar syrup (1:1 ratio) for transit nutrition |
| Queen Compartment | Separate cage with attendant bees and candy plug for gradual release |
| Purpose | Establishes new colonies, strengthens weak hives, and introduces new queens |
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