What is queen stock?

Queen stock refers to the selected breeding stock of honeybees used for producing new queens for the beekeeping industry. The queens are the reproductive females that lay eggs and create new colonies in the hive. Queen stock is carefully selected and bred for desirable traits such as high honey production, adaptability to different environments, gentle temperament, disease resistance, and longevity. The selection process involves evaluating the qualities of the queen and monitoring the performance of her offspring. Queen stock can be sourced from reputable local bee breeders or purchased from specialized queen producers. The quality of the queen stock can have a significant impact on the health and productivity of the bee colony, as well as the honey production.