Queen Excluder

A Queen Excluder is a beekeeping device designed to restrict the queen bee's access to certain parts of the hive, typically the honey supers. This selective barrier allows worker bees to pass through while preventing the larger queen and drones from entering specific areas. By doing so, it ensures that brood rearing is confined to designated brood chambers, keeping the honey supers free from eggs and larvae.

Design and Materials:

• Structure: Queen excluders are typically constructed as sheets of perforated metal or plastic, or as wire grids within a frame. The openings are precisely sized to allow worker bees to pass through while restricting the larger queen and drones.
• Materials: Common materials include metal (such as aluminum) and durable plastics. Metal excluders are known for their longevity and sturdiness, while plastic excluders offer a lightweight and cost-effective alternative.

Purpose and Benefits:

• Honey Purity: By preventing the queen from laying eggs in the honey supers, the harvested honey remains free from brood, ensuring higher purity and quality.
• Hive Management: Queen excluders assist in maintaining a clear distinction between brood chambers and honey storage areas, facilitating easier hive inspections and management.
• Swarm Prevention: In methods like the Demaree technique, queen excluders are utilized to control the queen's movement, aiding in swarm prevention strategies.

Considerations:

• Bee Movement: Some beekeepers believe that queen excluders can impede the movement of worker bees, potentially affecting honey production. However, studies have shown that queen excluders do not significantly impact colony dynamics or honey yield.
• Drone Trapping: Drones may become trapped above the excluder, leading to their death as they attempt to pass through.

Types of Queen Excluders:

• Metal Queen Excluders: Known for durability and longevity, metal excluders are a preferred choice for many beekeepers.
• Plastic Queen Excluders: Lightweight and cost-effective, plastic excluders are easy to handle and can be customized to fit various hive sizes.

Application:

• Placement: Position the queen excluder directly above the brood chamber and below the honey supers.
• Inspection: Regularly check the excluder for debris or propolis buildup that may obstruct bee movement, and clean as necessary.
• Seasonal Use: Consider removing the excluder before winter to allow the queen access to honey stores as the cluster moves within the hive.

Enhance your hive management and ensure the purity of your honey harvest by incorporating a quality Queen Excluder into your beekeeping practice. Contact Rafiki Pest Control to purchase this essential beekeeping tool.

Note: Always adhere to proper beekeeping practices and monitor your hive's health and productivity when using a queen excluder.