Acceptance by Honeybee Colonies of Larvae in Artificial Queen Cells

SummarySome factors affecting the acceptance of grafted queen cells were studied. Acceptance was low (32%) when queen pheromone (9-oxodec-trans-2-enoic acid) was present in the wax of artificial queen cups. Statistically significant differences were found between the acceptance rate of queen cups made of: (a) beeswax from old brood combs (86·6%), (b) fresh beeswax (767middot;6%), (c) capping wax, beeswax foundation, or equal parts of paraffin and old beeswax (70%). Pure paraffin cells were not accepted at all. Acceptance was independent of the time of day or night when grafting was done. Acceptance of cells primed with royal jelly containing 10% bee-stored pollen was 50·9%, but 93·3% for control cells primed with pure royal jelly. Royal jelly containing 10% stored pollen caused much rejection when added to cells containing developing queen larvae. Acceptance was 86·2% for cells primed with royal jelly containing 10% honey, but only 52% with royal jelly containing 5% honey and 5% stored pollen.