buying queens Australia

damienpryan · September 14, 2018, 02:45:19 AM

Hi All,

Is it possible to by queens (in small numbers) at the moment.
I haven't ordered ahead. I'm kind of assuming I fresh out of luck.
But if anyone knows a queen breeder with stock it would be real handy.

Cheers

Damien

max2 · September 14, 2018, 04:36:44 AM

Queen breeders in Queensland have queens.

I have only Q cells but Barry at Glasshouse has queens available again on the 24. September. Maybe a little early for Vic breeders?

Brub58 · September 14, 2018, 05:36:35 AM

I?ve got a Queen on order for 25th Sept from NT Bees. And I got one about this time of year last year from Covey queens. You could try either of them.

damienpryan · September 14, 2018, 11:57:34 PM

Thanks!
I've contacted NT Bees.
I'll see if he has stock.

Cheers

Damien

SouthAussieBeekeeper · September 20, 2018, 12:32:46 AM

Has anyone had any luck with getting queens from Kangaroo Island?

sjh · September 20, 2018, 06:21:27 PM

Tried to order last year got promised the world but just got the run around.
Not worth the effort IMO.
Steve.

Brub58 · September 20, 2018, 07:14:49 PM

Same here. Stephens really helpful up to the point of actually producing a queen. I?m still waiting on delivery of an order I placed in August last year. I?ve heard similar stories from others I?ve spoken to.

max2 · September 20, 2018, 10:51:00 PM

SA Beekeeper - why would you like to buy a KI queen?

SouthAussieBeekeeper · September 20, 2018, 11:05:03 PM

Because I want the ligurian strain of honeybee. I deem its characteristics to be ideal for what I'm wanting to do. KI has the purest strain of Ligurian in the world.

Is there a good reason, besides difficulty in obtaining, for buying a more.hybrid Ligurian from the mainland instead?

max2 · September 21, 2018, 04:08:24 AM

"Is there a good reason, besides difficulty in obtaining, for buying a more.hybrid Ligurian from the mainland instead?"

It is very likely that the Ligurian characteristics will not last beyond the queen you buy. Any daughters of this one will be muts of un-known background.
I have written to Stephan to find out how much a queen would be - posted .
I know that some friends from the local beekeeping club have tried them and in many cases the expensive Ligurian was super-seeded. You are closer and it may well work out for you.
I give most things a go.

SouthAussieBeekeeper · September 21, 2018, 06:17:44 AM

What do you mean by super-seeded?

If a Queen from KI makes offspring that develop into a Queen, and they mate with a mainland drone, their offspring will benefit from hybrid vigor and should produce superior offspring. A queen bought from KI will have 90%+ Ligurian genetics, whereas who knows what percentage a mainland Ligurian is actually Ligurian. Some breeders say they get their Queen's from KI, another says he artificially inseminates them.