Quality of Heat Stressed Queens

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Countryboy
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Quality of Heat Stressed Queens

Unread post by Countryboy »

I had a 30 queen order to be delivered today via UPS, and the queen supplier sent 32 queens.

I was out pulling brood making up nucs to get ready for the queens. I got back to the house 2 hours after the queens were delivered, according to UPS tracking data.

The box is clearly marked, Live Queen Bees, Keep at Room Temperature, Keep Out of Sun.

Both my front and back decks have a roof over them. The steps leading up to the deck however, are in full sun.

Guess where the UPS driver left the queens? You got it. Right on the steps to the deck, in full sun.
If he carried it another 3 seconds he could have set it by the front door, and it would have been out of the sun. But did they do that? Nope.
Another 10 seconds, and he could have carried it to the back deck. But did they do that? Nope.
My driveway comes to the side of the house, so either the front of back door was easily accessible.

14 queens were dead. About half the remaining queens were still alive. The other half were barely moving. Most of the attendants were dead.

I got them put in nucs trying to save the queens.

Even if they live, does heat stressing them to near death affect their longevity or quality? Or are they pretty much toast?
B. Farmer Honey
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Allen Dick
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Re: Quality of Heat Stressed Queens

Unread post by Allen Dick »

I don't know the answer to that. Sounds like a question for BEE-L.
Allen Dick, RR#1 Swalwell, Alberta, Canada T0M 1Y0
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Countryboy
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Re: Quality of Heat Stressed Queens

Unread post by Countryboy »

I had done some Googling and found something that referenced a study that found that queens that had dehydrated but didn't die, viability of sperm went from 90% down to 20%.

I don't post to Bee-L because Aaron threw a fit on me and said he would never approve any of my posts because I dared to question the gods of Ivory Towers, I objected to government intervention in beekeeping in favor of free market principles, and I wasn't afraid to look at how political decisions affect beekeeping. He really took offense when I pointed out that my posts were within stated Bee-L guidelines and he was violating Bee-L guidelines in his moderation by refusing to approve of any of my posts simply because he disagrees with my personal political views.

To be quite honest, in the emails he sent me, I got the impression he was rather intoxicated and vacillates between socialism and fascism. It's easier for him to shoot the messenger, than to accept the reality that he has spent his life a part of a system that is deeply flawed and should be viewed with major skepticism.
B. Farmer Honey
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Allen Dick
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Re: Quality of Heat Stressed Queens

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I seemed to recall something like the study you mentioned, but did not want to say unless sure.
Allen Dick, RR#1 Swalwell, Alberta, Canada T0M 1Y0
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BDT123
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Re: Quality of Heat Stressed Queens

Unread post by BDT123 »

In the August edition of ABJ, Vol 120, Page 909, Alison McAfee has an article that addresses this issue.
Basically, the sperm is degraded inside her spermatheca by excess heat, and it doesn't take much excess heat to have profoundly negative effects.
It's a pretty good article I think, multiple references.
Brian
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