The generic honeycomb is a unique device in beekeeping. It was invented by the German beekeeper and scientist Karl Genter, at the end of the 20th century. The device facilitates the removal of uterus and provides several other advantages. You can make a cell on your own with a minimum of cost.
Design features
Dzhentersky honeycomb is made of plastic. It consists of a set of cassettes, a set of cells (curlers), socles for the vaccination frame and holders of the uterine bowl, as well as the bottoms and the bowls themselves. The kit includes a tool for removing bowls from the cartridge and a separate device for cleaning them. Some models have vaccination bars.
In turn, the cassette consists of a honeycomb mesh, which is a copy of natural bee honeycombs. The honeycomb mesh is covered with a thin layer of wax, which guarantees the acceptance of the device by bees.
The cassette is double-sided. The front side is closed by a dividing grid, being a uterine insulator, and bottoms and bowls are inserted on the rear side. A cover for the passage of the uterus is provided in the separation grid.
What the original Jenter’s honeycomb for hatching consists of is described in the video below:
Varieties
Generic honeycomb involves a number of varieties. Its basic design is the Standard model. The following varieties are also distinguished, which differ only in the complete set:
- "Fast start". This set is the most convenient, as it provides for special holders of bowls on the vaccination bar. The kit includes uterine cells and a device for removing the cups.
- "Advanced standard." Additionally included are bottoms with bowls (total of 115 pieces), grafting bars, plug for cleaning the cells. Uterine cells (30 pieces) are provided. The difference is the size of the case. It has the shape of a square, but with a side of 12 cm.
Dzhentersky cells are regularly updated, sets are replenished with additional devices. The kits are equipped with a DVD-ROM containing video instructions.
Manufacturer Cost
The manufacturer of Honeycomb honeycomb is Karl Jenter (Germany). The cost of the device depends on its model:
- “Standard” costs about 6,100 rubles;
- “Advanced Standard” costs an average of 7,000 rubles;
- The cost of the “Quick Start” is about 5,700 rubles.
On sale are not only these varieties of Honeycomb honeycomb in the set, but also its parts separately. Any item in the kit can be purchased separately. This allows, if necessary, to expand the set or replace failed parts.
Advantages and disadvantages of using
The popularity of Jenter's cell is due to a number of its advantages:
- the intake of larvae is almost 100%;
- convenient transplant of larvae in large quantities with minimal losses;
- accurate determination of the age of the larvae;
- the correct shape of the mother cells and large size - provides large queens;
- loyalty of bees to the uterus removed in this way;
- it is possible to organize the simultaneous exit of queens from a honeycomb;
- ease of operation - this method is well suited for beginners in beekeeping, people with low vision;
- ease in leaving;
- reusable use.
There are some disadvantages of a generic honeycomb:
- price - many beekeepers consider the main disadvantage of the device is its high cost;
- the impossibility of removing a large number of queens - only 99 holes are provided, and not all of them are sown;
- large apiaries require several sets of Jenter honeycombs.
Instructions for use, breeding and growing uterus
Included with the Jenter's honeycomb must be an instruction. After assembly, proceed according to the following algorithm:
- Toward evening, insert the honeycomb into the hive. This is done by inserting honeycombs into one of the frames. Use screws to secure. It is recommended to apply a small amount of honey on the Dzhentersky honeycomb - this ensures the acceleration of the process and reduces the risk of bees rejecting the foreign element.
- One day before receiving the eggs, the frame with the honeycomb is installed between the brood frames (at a distance of at least 1 cm from each other). It is better to choose the central part of the hive. Insects will immediately begin finalizing the plastic base - they will cover it with a wax layer, prepare the cells.
- After a day, remove the frame from the slot. Close the genter's cell with a trellised lid, in the central part of which there is a hole with a stopper for launching the uterus.
- The uterus should be young, but fertile. It must be placed in a Jenter honeycomb and corked. The frame should be sent back to the hive.
- In isolation, the uterus will begin to lay eggs in the bottoms. The features of the device of the Jenter honeycomb provide free penetration of nurse-bees into it. For this, narrow slots are provided in the lid - they are too small for the uterus, so it cannot get out.
- The uterus is released from the honeycomb. The frame is returned back to the hive.
- After 3 days, the youngest larvae are transferred to the vaccination frames. To do this, the bottoms are removed from the Jenter cell and inserted into the bowls, and those, in turn, into the holders.
- Frames are placed in a kindergarten, where the uterus is preliminarily taken and absolutely all mother cells are destroyed.
- After 3-4 days, an examination is carried out of how many larvae the family has taken up.
- Before the release of new uterus, the mother liquor is closed with a cell.
For 100% hatching, the larvae must be selected correctly. An important condition is their healthier condition and optimal age. A minimum of 20 individuals per frame is required. The plugs with selected larvae must be carefully removed and closed with caps.
The grafting frame must be ready in advance. It is supplied with plastic fasteners, which are necessary for fixing the bowls with larvae.
Open air is harmful to the larvae, as they quickly dry out on it. To eliminate such a nuisance while carrying on the vaccination frame will help a damp towel, which cover the structure.
After all the necessary preparations, the vaccination framework must be installed in a new bee family, where education will be carried out. It is important to consider the possibilities of families - two frames are enough for one bee family, that is, 40 future queens. The bee-families will ensure the completion of queen cells, giving them the necessary form, feeding and raising, and supplying the bee bread.
In the instructions to the generic cell, a special scheme is given for the correct start of the process. All actions are timed, which allows you to plan the entire process and achieve its maximum efficiency. In total, it takes 30 days. The main timelines are as follows:
- the uterus in the prepared design should be at least 3 hours, it is recommended to withstand 15-20 hours so that the eggs are guaranteed to be laid;
- egg laying the next day is recommended to be checked at 9-11 hours, if the attempt was unsuccessful, then it must be repeated;
- larvae are placed in the family-teacher after 3 days;
- after another 3 days, begin the preparation of nuclei and bee colonies to replace the uterus;
- after 8 days, transplant mother liquors into nuclei, provide insects with 2-week rest;
- after a period of rest, check the cells - if there are fertilized cells, then the new uterus is ready to replenish the family.
When placing larvae in a kindergarten family, it is necessary to have a reserve. Larval rejection is possible, so their feeding and development should be monitored. In case of rejection, the larvae need to be replaced with a reserve and tightened control.
Watch the video tutorial on hatching queen bees with the help of the Genter honeycomb:
Do-it-yourself
Beekeepers consider its high cost to be the main drawback of the Genther honeycomb. This makes the actual manufacture of such a device in the home. To do this, you will need:
- plywood - a thickness of not more than 10 mm;
- drill and suitable drill;
- file;
- wax - cells are made from it;
- template with a diameter of 5 mm;
- drawing.
Plywood for self-production of honeycombs is used, since it is very difficult to make such a structure from plastic. Work is carried out according to the following algorithm:
- Saw a square piece of plywood with a side of 15 cm.
- Mark the frame to make holes later. The gap between them should be equal, diameter 8 mm. For convenience of marking, it is recommended to make a grid of plywood on the frame - squares with a side of 1 cm. The holes should be made at the points of intersection.
- Using a drill, make holes with a depth of 5 mm.
- Melt the wax and fill it with the prepared holes.
- Attach a wax strip to each row of holes.
- Make holes with a pre-prepared template. Depth 3 mm, shape must be conical. The diameter corresponds to a pre-prepared template.
Further actions must be carried out according to the instructions already described. The honeycomb must also be treated with honey and placed in a frame. The wax plate must be separated after laying the eggs in the cells with the uterus. This must be done carefully. The separated plate is attached to the uterine frame.
Above, one of the options for performing Honeycomb Honeycomb is painted. Here is another option:
Product Care
One of the advantages of Honeycomb Cell is that it can be used repeatedly. A lot of this contributes to the use for the manufacture of plastic construction. Such material is easy to clean.
To clean the Jenter honeycomb, it is necessary to process them with sugar syrup and place them in the bee family. Bees will do the rest. They will clean the structure in about 2 hours. This method is also suitable for other plastic parts.
Another way of cleaning is to rinse all the parts in water, the temperature of which is 65 degrees Celsius. This is enough for the wax to melt and the plastic parts to not deteriorate. Do not add any detergents to the water!
In the manufacture of a Jenter honeycomb with their own hands, repeated use is meaningless. The cost of construction is minimal, so it’s easier to make a new frame.
Generic honeycombs allow you to conveniently and efficiently remove the queens. The process should be organized according to a specific algorithm. Genter's honeycombs can be purchased in various trim levels or made with your own hands. The second option allows you to save significantly.