Beekeeping Glossary

A fully developed mated female bee responsible for all the egg laying of a colony; recognized by other bees by her special pheromones (odors).

A special cage in which queens are strong shipped and/or introduced to a colony, usually with 5 or 6 young workers called attendants, and a candy plug.

A special elongated cell resembling a peanut shell in which the queen is reared; usually over an inch in length, it hangs vertically from the comb.

A cup-shaped cell hanging vertically from the comb, but containing no egg; also made artificially of wax or plastic to raise queens.

A device made of wire, wood or zinc (or any combination thereof) having openings of .163 to .164 inch, which permits workers to pass but excludes queens and drones; used to confine the queen to a specific part of the hive, usually the brood nest.

A colony that contains a laying queen.