Nepal Produces First-Ever Artificially Inseminated Queen Bee

Chitwan: The Beekeeping Development Program in Bhandara, Chitwan, has successfully produced queen bees through artificial insemination for the first time.

According to Program Chief Sujan Amgai, five queen bees of the Apis mellifera species were produced with technical assistance from beekeeping experts at the University of Florida, USA.

In a honeybee colony, the queen bee is the only fertile female responsible for laying eggs. Breeding queen bees through artificial insemination aims to improve bee genetics and boost honey production, Amgai explained.

The queen bees were reared in collaboration with trained beekeeper Alice Maharjan and technicians from the Beekeeping Development Program. Amgai noted that this success was the result of continuous effort. While a queen bee was produced in the last fiscal year, it could not be saved. This time, however, all five queen bees have survived, he shared with joy.

Artificially bred queen bees are expected to enhance honey production significantly compared to naturally bred ones. These queens are also believed to have stronger immunity. However, Amgai noted that further research is needed to better understand their life cycle and long-term impact.

(RSS)