Effect of Carbon Dioxide on Initial Oviposition of Artificially Inseminated and Virgin Queen Bees

Abstract

CO2 gas reduced the initial laying age of artificially inseminated or virgin queens from an average of over 40 days after emergence to an av. of 11.5 days as compared with 9.6 days in naturally mated queens. The prompt laying also increased the quality and percentage of laying queens obtained because a long period of mistreatment by worker bees was avoided. The gas was applied by making it flow slowly through the queen holder during insemination or by dropping the caged queen into a container through which CO2 was flowing. Two exposures of 10 min. duration spaced 24 hrs. apart, or 48 hrs. if both were accompanied by insemination, were found satisfactory. Best results were obtained when the 2d treatment was completed on or before the 6th day, but there was no advantage in completion before the 6th day. Later completion increased initial oviposition age, the time from second insemination to laying being in this case an average of 5.3 days.