Queen Rearing using Larval Transfer (also known as Grafting) 

We haven't found a problem, Ian.

Not a big problem but after years of grafting I just find it easier might be my old eye that lady is much younger and can seem to do it with a veil on😊

Well, you can tell if the larvae was jarred it will be on the side. Just don’t use it.

Adam, it's an interesting question. I can only guess at the answer. I can confirm that the old queen does not swarm. Even if the cells in the top box, above the excluder, are left in too long and start hatching, the bees do not seem to want to swarm, although perhaps they would if one or more virgins got through the excluder into her box. On the other hand if the bees in the bottom box rear cells, which is very rare, and usually only occurs if the beekeeper fails to check the bottom box thoroughly when setting up, the bees may well swarm in those circumstances. It seems the queen needs to be in contact with maturing cells for the swarming process to kick in. Rearing in a queenright hive is a system I like, as the colony, as a whole, is queenright, and so there is no stress on the colony, and no bad temper, which there is with some other systems. Jo

Thanks very much Jo, that’s really helpful. I will have a go and see how I get on! Adam