January 05, 2026
New Penn State Extension Notes on Honey Bee Queen Insemination
Penn State's Kate Anton and Robyn Underwood recently co-published new guidance for beekeepers interested in instrumental insemination of queens.
An Unmated Honey Bee Queen: Appearance of a queen before mating, the workers respond with indifference to unmated queens.
Penn State Extension has released three new practical guides for beekeepers on introducing instrumentally inseminated honey bee queens into colonies:
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Introducing a Laying Queen: Step-by-step instructions for successfully placing a queen that has already begun laying into an established colony. Read More Here...
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Using a Push-in Cage: Detailed methods for installing a queen using a push-in cage, including recommendations for cage construction and how to position it in the hive to improve acceptance. Read More Here...
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Pre-laying II Queen Introduction: Best practices for introducing an inseminated queen before she has started laying, helping beekeepers ensure acceptance and smooth integration. Read More Here...
These resources offer evidence-based, step-by-step techniques to support successful requeening and are now available on the Extension website for beekeepers and researchers alike.