How Queens Mate Naturally
In natural mating, a virgin queen leaves the hive on one or more mating flights, generally some days after emerging, and mates in the air with drones from the surrounding area. Drones (see the bee hive hierarchy) gather in places often called drone congregation areas, and a queen typically mates with multiple drones during her flights. She stores the sperm in an organ called the spermatheca (see queen bee anatomy) and can use it to fertilize eggs for her laying life. After mating, she generally stays in the hive and lays eggs.
Because mating takes place in the open air, the beekeeper has little control over which drones the queen meets. Weather, local drone numbers and predators all affect success.
To answer a common question: queens need to mate with drones to lay fertilized (worker) eggs. A queen that is not mated can still lay unfertilized eggs, but these become drones. See how to tell if a queen bee has mated for signs to check.
What Is Instrumental Insemination?
Instrumental insemination, also called artificial insemination, is a technique in which semen is collected from selected drones and introduced into a queen using specialized equipment, usually under a microscope. The queen is typically anesthetized, often with carbon dioxide, and the process requires training and precise tools. Researchers and queen breeders use it for controlled mating.
Why Breeders Use It
- Controlled genetics: breeders can choose which drones contribute, which is useful for selective breeding programs and research. Common honey bee races are often the starting stock.
- Preserving lines: it can help maintain or combine specific stocks.
- Mating without weather limits: it removes dependence on flight weather, though queens still need care afterwards.
Limitations
- It needs specialized equipment and substantial skill.
- Success depends on technique and queen handling, and results vary.
- Inseminated queens still need to be raised, housed and introduced, and their performance can vary.
- It is rarely practical for a hobbyist keeping a few hives.
Options for Hobbyists
Most backyard beekeepers rely on natural mating. If controlled genetics matters to you, you can buy queens produced by breeders, which is covered in buying a mated queen bee. If you want to raise queens yourself and let them mate naturally, see how to raise a queen bee. Small mating hives such as queen castles are often used to house queens until they mate.
FAQ
How does a queen bee get mated?
She flies out of the hive and mates in the air with drones, usually several, then returns to the hive.
Who gets a queen bee pregnant?
Drones, the male bees, mate with the queen. Strictly speaking, she stores sperm rather than becoming pregnant, and then lays eggs.
How much do mated queen bees cost?
Prices vary by seller, breed and season. See our article on buying a mated queen.
Can queen bees reproduce without a male?
An unmated queen can lay unfertilized eggs that develop into drones, but she cannot produce worker bees without having mated.