Content
Nucleus helps the beekeeper to obtain and fertilize young queens using a simplified system. The structure of the structure resembles a beehive, but it has its own nuances. Nuclei come in large sizes and miniature ones - micronuclei. The beekeeper must have good experience in order to be able to form a colony and breed a queen.
What is a nucleus
In essence, a nucleus is a reduced-sized hive. Translated from Latin, it means core. For beekeepers, the term means the basis of the bee colony. The small size of the body does not allow it to accommodate many insects. An understaffed colony consists of a maximum of 1000 strong worker bees and a queen. Compared to a micronucleus, a nucleus is larger in size and can contain several queens.
Inside, the nucleus looks like an ordinary hive with a full-fledged family. However, due to fewer worker bees, they are unable to provide themselves with food for the winter.A small family cannot resist the attack of other full-fledged bee colonies. Knowing their weakness, the bees begin to develop faster. This is the advantage of cores.
There are three varieties:
- micronuclei;
- medium size;
- large cores.
The main difference is in size. Large nucs can be used instead of regular hives. Their disadvantage is the need to populate a large number of bees.
In beekeeping, nuclei are needed to fly around the queens, or more precisely, for two purposes: fertilization and breeding new queens. It is not profitable to work with queens in hives. It will take a lot of drones that are not useful in the apiary. It is more profitable to acquire several cores.
Another purpose is family reproduction. Bees develop faster in small enclosures. The family grows independently without the constant supervision of a beekeeper.
What is a micronucleus
Continuing to decipher the terms, it should be noted that a micronucleus is the same structure, only of reduced size. The translation of the word nucleus is similarly preserved - core. The term micro means small. Together they form a small bee colony.
Large cores are less popular among beekeepers. Most often, mini-nuclei are purchased for an apiary due to ease of maintenance and low cost. The price of one micronucleus is within 700 rubles.
Polystyrene is often used to make the body. Inside there are 4 frames and a feeder. Popular are Polish models equipped with a lower entrance, which prevents the theft of honey by other bees.Compared to a large nucleus, a micronucleus is designed for one uterus. The advantage is the need to populate a small number of bees. However, there are disadvantages. Due to the small size of the frames, the queen quickly sows them. If the queen is not removed from the micronucleus in time, she will fly away a few days after fertilization.
What materials is it made from?
The bee nucleus is made from the same materials as the hives themselves. Traditionally, wood is used: pine, spruce. For home-made structures, fiberboard is used. Modern models are made from polystyrene foam, polyurethane foam, and expanded polystyrene. The main requirement for the material is environmental friendliness.
Which nuc is better for bees?
The beekeeper chooses the optimal micronucleus model for himself. Often Dadan, containing 12 frames, is divided into 6 buildings. However, the best is considered to be a single design that can accommodate 3 frames.
A core with a body divided into four compartments, each of which can accommodate 3 small frames measuring 100x110 mm, is considered economical.
There are corner models. Such micronuclei do not use frames. The walls are made with bevels. Foundation is installed in the grooves.
A single micronucleus has a feeder at the top. The entrance is equipped with a regulator. Often corner micronuclei are made from polyurethane foam, polystyrene foam or polystyrene foam. There are wooden structures.
Rochefus nucs are popular among amateur beekeepers. The design consists of a wooden body with a bottom. Blind partitions divide the internal space into compartments. Usually there are 4 of them. The bottom of each compartment has a slot covered with a grill.Through it, the bees make their way to the main colony, but do not contact the queen. Each compartment is closed from above with a lid or feeder, and there is an individual entrance. To make the house recognizable to bees, its walls are painted in four different colors.
The video tells more about the best models:
How to make a nucleus for bees
The easiest way to make cores with your own hands is from polyurethane foam or polypropylene foam, but wood will do. If you have no experience, you will need a drawing. Schemes can be found in specialized literature and on the Internet. The need for a drawing is explained by the presence of the dimensions of each element. For example, a micronucleus is often made in standard dimensions: 175x76x298 mm. The dimensions of the core for a full polyurethane foam frame are: 315x405x600 mm. The order of numbers indicates height, width and length, respectively.
However, compliance with the specified dimensions is not necessary. These are just examples. Each beekeeper collects micronuclei and large bodies according to his own measurements.
DIY bee nuclei: drawings, materials, tools
Most of the drawings for making bee nucs with your own hands show the body elements and internal structure. Dimensions may not be indicated on the diagrams. It is important for a beekeeper to know the basic components. The size is calculated individually.
The set of tools for work depends on the selected material. To process wood you will need a saw, a jigsaw, and sandpaper. PPS, polyurethane foam and polystyrene are easy to cut with a knife.
Build process
The sequence of assembling a core with your own hands consists of the following steps:
- Markings are applied to the material selected for manufacturing according to the drawing.
- The body is assembled from the cut out fragments. EPS, polystyrene foam or polyurethane foam are glued together and reinforced with self-tapping screws.Fragments of the wooden body are knocked down with nails.
- The internal space of the case is divided by partitions of the same size. They are attached to the side walls of the box with self-tapping screws.
- Inside the box there are fasteners for frames and a feeder. Making a lid. Tapholes are cut out for each compartment. The maximum diameter of the holes is 15 mm.
- The bottom of the micronucleus or large body is equipped with legs from the outside. Typically, stands are made from 4 bars, screwing them to the body with self-tapping screws.
The finished structure is checked for strength. Finally, the body is painted.
How to make frames for a nucleus
According to the standard, frames have the following dimensions:
- 145x233 mm – 1/3 Ruta;
- 145x145 mm – 1/3 Dadan;
- 206x134 mm – ¼ sun lounger.
In non-standard homemade micronuclei, the size of the frames is calculated individually. They must fit inside the case.
A design feature of the core frame is its dimensions. It is half of a standard frame. If they need to be installed in a regular hive, the frames are connected with a nail or a piano loop.
Frames are made from slats. For mass production, it is advisable to have a special template - a jig. The slats are fastened together with nails.
Rules for working with cores
Working with a nucleus or micronucleus has its own characteristics that differ from servicing hives.
How to properly form a bee colony in a nucleus
In order for the formation of micronuclei or large analogues to be successful, a developed, strong family of bees is selected during honey collection or swarming. The procedure is performed before lunch. At this time the hives are practically empty. Feeder bees, guards and new brood remain inside.
The order in which a bee colony is formed depends on the weather:
- In the southern regions, beekeepers place two feeding frames with honey and one with brood in the nucleus. Additionally, about 300 worker bees are laid.
- In cold areas, an equal number of frames with food and brood are installed in the nucleus. Usually two pieces. The number of worker bees is increased to 600 individuals.
The brood for forming a colony of bees is taken sealed. The amount of feed is at least 2 kg. A ripening queen cell is placed inside a large body or micronucleus. If the queen is not fertilized, she is isolated in a cage and released after 5 days.
In place of the collected brood and food, a void is formed inside the main hive. It is filled with honeycombs and foundation. The completed micronucleus or large body is insulated. The entrance is reduced to the size of a bee so that only one individual can climb through the hole. The entrance is widened when the queen begins to mate.
Over time, the young bees will leave the honeycombs. The beekeeper removes the empty frames and replaces them with new ones containing larvae. The replacement procedure allows the young animals to be loaded with work. Everything needs to be done before the queen starts laying eggs.
How to hatch queens
Each beekeeper has his own secrets for breeding queens in micronuclei. The procedure for the Rochefus model consists of the following steps:
- After completing work with the bee family, the teacher removes the upper body from the hive. Frames with bees are transferred to the lower building, where there is its own queen. The old queen is allowed to be culled, and the young one is transferred to another nucleus. At the time of the procedure, it must be inhabited by a strong family of alien bees.
- From a colony of bees left without a queen, frames with printed brood and nested bees are taken.They are transferred one at a time to each Rochefus compartment. Add 1 feed frame each. Mature queen cells are added to the brood frames. The completed nucleus is returned to the hive body with the main bee family.Important! At the time of installation of Rochefus, there should be no fertile queen in the main body of the hive. Otherwise, the new queens will be destroyed.
- After a period of time, a queen will appear inside each compartment and fly out through an individual entrance to mate with the drones.
The technology allows you to get at least 4 fertile queens from one bee colony. In warm weather, you can further increase the yield of queens by placing additional Rochefus on top.
How to preserve a nucleus in winter
In order for the wintering of nucs and weak bee colonies to be successful, the beekeeper carries out preparations. To obtain a developed colony of bees, it is optimal to move the queen no later than July 25th. The seeding will come from this queen.
Due to bad weather conditions or the impossibility of transporting the apiary, honey collection ends prematurely. Bees require feeding with syrup in an amount of 250 to 350 g per nucleus. About 2 liters of syrup are fed over 1 or 2 days.
For wintering, each bee family is provided with 4 half-frames filled with honey. With the onset of cold weather, the cores are brought into the omshanik and placed on top of the hives. The bees will be warmer on the upper tier.
Conclusion
The Nucleus is a convenient invention and every experienced beekeeper has it. The beekeeper has the opportunity to independently breed queens and increase colonies without purchasing bee packages.
