Weather and location combined with our Instrumental Insemination Program enable us to offer exceptional queens. Honey production and pollination capabilities are the bottom line in beekeeping and these are the foremost goals of our breeding efforts. In addition, gentle temperament and an over-all rugged bee that "holds up" are of great importance. We are constantly improving these traits using Italian and Carniolan stock from
Dr. Joe Latshaw, Latshaw Apiaries.
Each February we send a selection of our mated queens to David Tarpy's Queen Lab at North Carolina State Univeristy for testing. His team provides us with a "Quality Queen Report" independently verifying, among other things, that our queens are well mated.
LATSHAW ITALIANS are golden in color and are excellent honey producers for areas that have extended honey flows. Their large colony populations enable them to collect and process large volumes of nectar efficiently. However, the large colony populations produced by the LATSHAW ITALIAN strain can consume large amounts of stores due t
LATSHAW ITALIANS are golden in color and are excellent honey producers for areas that have extended honey flows. Their large colony populations enable them to collect and process large volumes of nectar efficiently. However, the large colony populations produced by the LATSHAW ITALIAN strain can consume large amounts of stores due to their efforts to maintain large populations. Such a characteristic is ideal for honey production and pollination, but may not be ideal in certain areas.
LATSHAW CARNIOLANS are darker than the Italians and are excellent honey producers for areas that have quick, early honey flows. Colony population is carefully regulated by pollen and nectar availability. Such a characteristic is ideal for a harsh environment, but may not be ideal in certain areas. LATSHAW CARNIOLANS tend to reduce bro
LATSHAW CARNIOLANS are darker than the Italians and are excellent honey producers for areas that have quick, early honey flows. Colony population is carefully regulated by pollen and nectar availability. Such a characteristic is ideal for a harsh environment, but may not be ideal in certain areas. LATSHAW CARNIOLANS tend to reduce brood production in hot, dry climates to the extent that they may miss the fall honey flow.