Mated Pol-Line 2.2 VSH Queens

• Pickup: Available by appointment in Greensburg, IN . Choose "Pickup" at checkout.
• Shipping: Every Tuesday via UPS Next Day Air across the contiguous U.S.
• Order cutoff: Orders placed after Sunday at 11:59 p.m. will ship the following Tuesday.
• Bulk orders: 50+ queens may be eligible for alternate shipping arrangements.
• Free shipping: Use code QUEEN100 at checkout for 100+ queens.

Our queens are open-mated daughters of instrumentally inseminated breeder queens selected for:

• Strong spring buildup and colony productivity
• Gentle temperament for easier handling
• Excellent overwintering performance
• Varroa Sensitive Hygiene (VSH) traits

Raised from lines that have undergone over 25 years of refinement, our queens trace back to elite genetics originally linked to USDA VSH and Pol-line programs. Our collaborators maintain untreated populations and use artificial insemination to ensure genetic consistency.

These queens carry VSH traits that disrupt mite reproduction in capped brood. Key points:

• VSH bees leave mite-infested cells untouched if the mites aren’t reproducing.
• It takes about 55 days post-introduction for full VSH expression to suppress mites.
• Temporary spotty brood may occur if introduced to highly infested colonies.
• VSH does not act on mites in drone brood.

While not a cure-all, VSH queens significantly reduce mite pressure over time, especially when used in an integrated pest management (IPM) system or treatment-free operation.