The economics of the two-queen and single-queen systems of colony management: A thesis presented to the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture (Inc.)

Abstract

The two-queen method of colony management was initiated by partitioning standard single-queen colonies 8 weeks before the predicted start of the nectarflow. Over a two year testing period involving the equivalent of 269 colony years,the two-queen system consistently produced more honey than the single-queen system (p <. 0.01). Greater differences occurred between seasons using the same method of management than between the two different methods of management in either season. In both good and bad crop years the two-queen system required less equipment, truck mileage, and apiary working time per unit quantity of honey produced than the single-queen system.