Mated Queens

A little about Joe Latshaw:

“Latshaw Apiaries operates one of the largest and longest standing breeding programs in the US.  Dr. Latshaw has nearly 30 years of experience selecting and instrumentally inseminating queens. Our approach to breeding and selection is simple.  We simply want good bees!  We pride ourselves on the durability and performance of our stock.  Selection and evaluation are both key to a successful breeding program.  Although we do not advertise our stock as “mite resistant” or “mite tolerant”, our stock is run without treatments.  This approach adds another level of selection pressure to our breeding program.  Over the years, Dr. Latshaw has inseminated tens of thousands of queens – of which some are sold, some are culled, and some are placed in the field for long-term evaluation.  Our inseminated breeder queens are evaluated in full-size production colonies.  We strive for strong, healthy, productive colonies to deliver the next generation of queens.  While we have yet to find one perfect bee, we manage both Italian and Carniolan strains in a similar manner and evaluate them for commercially viable production qualities.”

“Our Carniolans are rugged, durable honey producers.  Their populations quickly catch up with our Italian colonies in the spring.  The somewhat “mindful” nature of Carniolans enables them to be overall better honey producers in our central Ohio area.

The Italians are what beekeepers have come to expect for pollination needs, emphasizing larger populations and enhanced brood production.  While larger populations mean an increase in honey consumption, our selection efforts have made our Italians resourceful honey producers too.  In our central Ohio area many of our Italian queens used for grafting are 2 years old and the occasional 3 year old presents itself.”