Bee Sex Essentials

By Lawrence J. Connor

By Lawrence John Connor

Bee Culture/American Bee Journal writer Dr. Larry Connor reviews the latest and essential knowledge of drone and queen production, mating and genetics. He clearly and concisely shows how the sex life of bees directly impacts the fate of the colony and, in turn, the success of the beekeeper. He outlines a sample bee breeding program for a sideline beekeeper with under 100 colonies who wants to produce queens from survivor, locally-adapted and mite-resistant lines. Drawing on his experience operating the Starline hybrid breeding program, he advocates dramatic changes in the way beekeepers obtain quality queens by utilizing locally produced late spring and summer queens. Connor is the author of Increase Essentials and editor of several scientific publications.