We are working on making it easier to find IQBA breeders/rearers near you who have queens for preorder or immediate sale.
For now, this is what you need to do:
For now, this is what you need to do:
- Click on the MAP OF IQBA BREEDERS link in the page header (it will be a menu on smaller screens)
- Click on map markers near you to get contact information for nearby breeders..
- If the breeder has a website, check there for current preorder/ordering info and contact them via their website.
- Otherwise call or email the breeder directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why buy IQBA queens?
IQBA queens have been selected to thrive in Indiana conditions. Selection criteria include honey production, varroa mite counts, gentleness, diesease resistance, overwinter survival, and winter cluster size. IQBA genetics are based exclusively on locally raised bees from Indiana queen breeders and Purdue University's Bee Lab. Purdue researchers assist with IQBA breeder queen selection by genome sequencing of bees from candidate colonies to predict which queens or crosses will provide the best performance.
Why buy local queens?
The many subspecies of the western honey bee (Apis mellifera) found around the world show significant variation depending on the region they come from. Climate and foraging conditions in the US vary significantly based on latitude and location (coastal, mountains, desert, prairie, etc.). While queens from southern states are available earlier in the year, they may not be the best choice for Indiana. In addition, buying directly from a local queen breeder has many benefits. Typically, a mated queen you buy from a local small breeder will not have been banked. If you pick her up and install her the same day, she will not have had to endure shipping stress or a long period of confinement. Also, local breeders are often willing to answer questions and help you find the best solution to your beekeeping problem.
What are the different ways of buying a queen?
In order from least to most expensive: 1) queen cell, 2) virgin queen, 3) mated queen, 4) package, 5) nucleus hive.
Queen cells are a great option for providing a quality queen to a new queenless split. Sales of queen cells are timed so that the queen will emerge in a few days, or even sooner. This can save a couple of weeks compared to letting the colony requeen itself from eggs, and will provide new, quality genetics to your apiary.
Virgin queens are queens that have emerged but have not gone on mating flights. Virgin queens can be used for the same purposes as queen cells, but should be introduced as recommended. After she is released, she will go on her mating flights .A week or so after that she will begin laying.
Mated queens are used to requeen existing colonies that have a poor performing or missing queen, colonies with certain health issues, and queenless splits. Mated queens are a popular option because the queen is ready to lay immediately and typically has been checked for a good laying pattern. Mated queens should be introduced as recommended.
Packages typically contain 3 pounds of bees and a caged queen. Packages can be used to boost or restart a colony that has drawn comb available. The queen must be introduced to the bees as they are from different colonies. Few, if any, IQBA breeders sell packages.
Nucleus hives are small four or five frame colonies with a laying queen, several frames of brood, stores (honey, pollen) and some laying space. Nucleus hives are a great way for new beekeepers to start a new colony, especially if you have no drawn comb on hand. An overwintered nucleus colony is a colony that survived the previous winter. It often has the queen from the previous year, though some breeders will introduce a new queen - ask your supplier so you know what you are getting.
How early are queens available?
Depending on weather conditions that year, the first possible mating flights will occur in late April to early May (earlier in the south of the state, later in the north). Breeders will adjust the timing of their first graft in order to have virgin queens emerge when plenty of drones are expected to be available and the weather is expected to be pleasant Queen cells will be avaible a couple of weeks before and mated queens a couple of weeks after mating flights. New nucleus hives (not overwintered) will take another two to four weeks to fill out and be ready for sale in late May to mid June. Check with your supplier on their expected timing since different breeders work to different schedules.
Will I get honey the first year?
New beekeepers should not expect a honey harvest their first year. While it is sometimes possible when foraging conditions are very good, the primary goal of first year beekeepers should be getting their bees ready to survive their first winter. This means keeping them healthy and leaving them plenty of honey. If you must harvest honey the first year, be sure to feed your bees as needed in the fall so they have enough food to survive the winter. While new beekeepers are usually eager to get started, it is not critical for a new beekeeper in Indiana to get bees as early as possible, e.g.., from sources in southern states. A nuc purchased locally in June, or even later, can be ready for winter.
IQBA queens have been selected to thrive in Indiana conditions. Selection criteria include honey production, varroa mite counts, gentleness, diesease resistance, overwinter survival, and winter cluster size. IQBA genetics are based exclusively on locally raised bees from Indiana queen breeders and Purdue University's Bee Lab. Purdue researchers assist with IQBA breeder queen selection by genome sequencing of bees from candidate colonies to predict which queens or crosses will provide the best performance.
Why buy local queens?
The many subspecies of the western honey bee (Apis mellifera) found around the world show significant variation depending on the region they come from. Climate and foraging conditions in the US vary significantly based on latitude and location (coastal, mountains, desert, prairie, etc.). While queens from southern states are available earlier in the year, they may not be the best choice for Indiana. In addition, buying directly from a local queen breeder has many benefits. Typically, a mated queen you buy from a local small breeder will not have been banked. If you pick her up and install her the same day, she will not have had to endure shipping stress or a long period of confinement. Also, local breeders are often willing to answer questions and help you find the best solution to your beekeeping problem.
What are the different ways of buying a queen?
In order from least to most expensive: 1) queen cell, 2) virgin queen, 3) mated queen, 4) package, 5) nucleus hive.
Queen cells are a great option for providing a quality queen to a new queenless split. Sales of queen cells are timed so that the queen will emerge in a few days, or even sooner. This can save a couple of weeks compared to letting the colony requeen itself from eggs, and will provide new, quality genetics to your apiary.
Virgin queens are queens that have emerged but have not gone on mating flights. Virgin queens can be used for the same purposes as queen cells, but should be introduced as recommended. After she is released, she will go on her mating flights .A week or so after that she will begin laying.
Mated queens are used to requeen existing colonies that have a poor performing or missing queen, colonies with certain health issues, and queenless splits. Mated queens are a popular option because the queen is ready to lay immediately and typically has been checked for a good laying pattern. Mated queens should be introduced as recommended.
Packages typically contain 3 pounds of bees and a caged queen. Packages can be used to boost or restart a colony that has drawn comb available. The queen must be introduced to the bees as they are from different colonies. Few, if any, IQBA breeders sell packages.
Nucleus hives are small four or five frame colonies with a laying queen, several frames of brood, stores (honey, pollen) and some laying space. Nucleus hives are a great way for new beekeepers to start a new colony, especially if you have no drawn comb on hand. An overwintered nucleus colony is a colony that survived the previous winter. It often has the queen from the previous year, though some breeders will introduce a new queen - ask your supplier so you know what you are getting.
How early are queens available?
Depending on weather conditions that year, the first possible mating flights will occur in late April to early May (earlier in the south of the state, later in the north). Breeders will adjust the timing of their first graft in order to have virgin queens emerge when plenty of drones are expected to be available and the weather is expected to be pleasant Queen cells will be avaible a couple of weeks before and mated queens a couple of weeks after mating flights. New nucleus hives (not overwintered) will take another two to four weeks to fill out and be ready for sale in late May to mid June. Check with your supplier on their expected timing since different breeders work to different schedules.
Will I get honey the first year?
New beekeepers should not expect a honey harvest their first year. While it is sometimes possible when foraging conditions are very good, the primary goal of first year beekeepers should be getting their bees ready to survive their first winter. This means keeping them healthy and leaving them plenty of honey. If you must harvest honey the first year, be sure to feed your bees as needed in the fall so they have enough food to survive the winter. While new beekeepers are usually eager to get started, it is not critical for a new beekeeper in Indiana to get bees as early as possible, e.g.., from sources in southern states. A nuc purchased locally in June, or even later, can be ready for winter.
