Products

Queen cells

queencells
  • Queen cells

Make an order enquiry

Our Queen cells are available for order. If you’d like to enquire or start the order process, please fill out the form below.

Order details
Contact details

Product information

Price
$7 (Price is per item, excluding GST, and in NZD)
Order size
1 to 1000
Available types
  • Italian queen cells
  • Kiwi hybrid queen cells
Availability
to

Queen cells are the most economical way of re-queening your hive. Queen cells are raised in specialised hives, with cells grafted from our breeding stock.

As queen cells are sensitive they can only be collected. You’ll need an incubator or incubator-hive for transport. We’ll move the queen cells directly from our incubator to yours.

Queen cells are available to collect when they’re 10 days old. This is the best time to move queen cells and gives you time to collect the cells and get them into your hives on the same day.

Our queen mothers are carefully selected for their:

  • genetic diversity
  • sealed (capped) brood pattern
  • productivity
  • calm temperament
  • hygienic behaviour
  • queen longevity
  • anti-swarm behaviour
About our Queen cells

Queen cells are created by careful selection and grafting of young larvae, which are then cared for by extremely strong and well fed cell builder hives. Once sealed the cells are transferred to our incubators to allow for their final growth and development.

Italian and Kiwi Hybrid queen cells are available.

Italian queens

We’re proud of the characteristics of our Italian queens. The hives they lead are easy to work, productive and demonstrate hygienic behaviour. Their fast brood-building is particularly effective for hives for pollination or honey production.

Kiwi Hybrid queens

These bees retain the good characteristics of the Italian but have some Carniolan traits such as smaller overwintering clusters and fast spring build up. Their colour is less yellow/brown and shows distinctive striping on the abdomen.

Ordering Queen cells

Availability

Available September to April.

Quantity

Available in any order size, to suit hobby, small scale or or commercial beekeepers. 

Order

Use the order form to place your order. We want to meet your needs, so let us know your preferred time frame and any special instructions you have. 

Once we’ve agreed on a plan for collection, we’ll confirm your order.

Payment and delivery information

Payment

We’ll send an invoice for payment closer to the collection date and before you pick up the cells.

Delivery

As queen cells are sensitive they can only be collected.