Bee Insemination

Artificial insemination of the queen bee needs very precise manipulations that cannot realistically be carried out without the use of a stereomicroscope. The insemination devices are bulky and require a large area to accommodate them together with good clearance to give adequate working distance. There are basically two options, either stereos with very large flat bases or the long arm versions that use a boom arm to hold the stereohead between the user and the insemination equipment. The later are probably the more versatile, although a little more expensive.

A zoom magnification stereohead is recommended because the potential magnification choices makes this ideal for the variable aspects of the procedure. The insemination apparatus shown below is manufactured from brass by Michael Collier of Cornbrook Bee Farm. The design has its basis in his many years practical and professional experience in this field. The unit and stereo are sold independently to allow a choice in the type and specification of the microscope. Lighting is also required and suggestions for suitable combinations are made below. There are two versions of this system. Either the insemination equipment is independent of the microscope and can be positioned where required and the microscope is then positioned using the long arn adjustment: or alternatively the whole system - insemination equipment and microscope are coupled onto a single base with adjustments for the insemination equipment relative to the microscope. Either way the price is the same.

Insemination Unit Only (no microscope) Price £998 - VAT not applicable

Bee Artificial Insemination Unit

Brunel Microscopes Ltd

Registered in U.K. (England) No: 2060047

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Artificial Insemination explained

Beekeeping

Insemination Microscopes

Pollen Slide Preparation

Bee Disease Microscopes

Hobbyist Microscopes

Inseminating syringe unit

Queen manipulation area

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A zoom stereomicroscope on a long arm base is recommended as the microscope configuration. The zoom allows an infinitely variable magnification best suited to the various procedures involved. Options from our range are shown below.

Effective lighting is essential and flexible arm units allow positioning to achieve good illumination of the operational area. Either LED flexible lighting or fibre optic systems are recommended.