The Purpose of Instrumental insemination

Instrumental insemination, I.I., is a proven and reliable method of controlled mating, providing an essential tool for honey bee research, bee breeding, and stock maintenance. The ability to control mating allows bee breeders to select stocks for economically valued traits and researchers to explore honey bee behavior and genetics.

The in flight, random, mating behavior of the queen to numerous drones has been difficult to control. Queens mate with an average of 10 to 20 drones and as many as 60. Drone congregating areas may contain 10,000 to 25,000 drones from 200 to 300 colonies of diverse genetic sources.

The technique also provides significant advantages, enabling the ability to create specific crosses beyond what occurs naturally. For example, a single drone can be mated to one or several queens, to isolate and amplify a specific trait. On the other extreme, semen from hundreds of drones can be homogenized and inseminated to a batch of queens. This allows unique mating system designs that simplify stock maintenance. For example, within a closed population breeding system this technique will increase the effective breeding population size and enhance viability and fitness.

Varying degrees of inbreeding can also be created to produce different relationships, including "selfing"; the mating of a queen to her own drones. Specific backcrosses can be created. Semen from the spermatheca of one queen can be extracted to inseminate another. These techniques offer unique research tools.

Another advantage of I.I. is the ability to store honey bee semen. Short term storage has been perfected. Semen can be held at room temperature and maintain good viability for several weeks. This allows for the easy and safe transport of semen, rather than live bees, reducing the risks of pests and diseases. In the near future long term storage of semen and eggs in liquid nitrogen will likely be perfected.

The increasing challenges facing the beekeeping industry - the impact of honey bee pests, parasites, pathogens and the phenomena of "Colony Collapse Disorder" creates an urgency in finding sustainable solutions. Selective breeding, stock improvement and the preservation and maintenance of genetic diversity of honey bee ecotypes and subspecies is critical to ensuing our food supply, worldwide.

Stock improvement, based on the practical application of scientific research, offers the best long term solution. Although, selective breeding will not provide the immediate and convenient remedy of chemical treatments, it is the most sustainable. The arsenal of chemical controls used to control honey bees diseases and parasites combined with the exposure to those used in agricultural production are proving increasingly detrimental.

Bee breeding is labor intensive and requires the dedication of a long-term commitment to a viable breeding system and stock maintenance plan. This includes a rigorous and annual selection program. With the sequencing of the honey bee genome and rapid development of new genetic technologies, the potential and direction of bee breeding offers an exciting future.

instrumental insemination simply offers a tool toward this goal. The technique has been perfected to provide a high rate of success, equaling that of naturally mated queens. Link to II vs NM paper.

Equipment Choice (Return to the top)

There are choices in techniques and equipment design to satisfy personal preferences. A key factor in the choice of equipment is the ability to make a full range of precise and smooth, very fine movements. Accuracy is essential for this delicate procedure. There are various options in tools designed manipulate the queen’s sting to expose the vaginal chamber. Preference is largely based upon personal choice, as the basic procedure and results are the similar.

As with any technical process, performance depends upon the quality of the equipment and the experience of the operator. The procedure requires practice and patience to acquire the skill.

A major emphasis of my work is to promote stock improvement and provide training in instrumental insemination. Of the instruments described here, choice is largely based upon personal preference. The instruments and techniques have a different feel in handling and offer different features, presented here to help you make an informed decision.

The type and quality of equipment used will make a difference in the ease or difficulty of learning and using this technique. It is an investment in the future. Please contact me with specific questions for more detailed information and a current price list.

When Ordering Parts (Return to the top)

There is some standardization of parts among the various instruments, although not all are compatible. When ordering spare parts, please specify the type of instrument you are using and specific preferences. Please see the details and choices listed in the descriptions. If you have a different or hand build instrument, please ask and I will try to accommodate your needs.

The Instrument (Return to the top)

The basic instrument consists of a supporting stand, a queen holder assembly, a set of hooks or forceps and a syringe. A heavy base is desirable so that the instrument is steady. The operation consists of collecting semen from drones into a syringe. The queen is anaesthetized, placed in a holding tube and her vaginal chamber opened with a pair of hooks or forceps. A measured amount of semen is injected directly into the oviducts.

Today, the use of a perforated sting hook or forceps ( free hand or mounted designs) has replaced the classic "spoon shaped" sting hook. These are easier to use because the sting structure is lifted and the vaginal cavity exposed which increases the ease of bypassing the valve-fold.

Modern instrument designs employ the use of micro-manipulators, providing a wide range of very fine and precise movements of the hooks and syringe. These improvements have made the technique easier to learn and provide consistency in the repeatability of the procedure.

Microscopes & Lights (Return to the top)

A microscope and light are also required. These vary in quality and price. A binocular dissecting stereomicroscope with a zoom lens and power range of 6X to 20X magnification is preferable. A microscope with a fixed magnification of 10X or 20X is adequate and more economical but does not provide good depth of field.

The microscope you choose must be compatible with your instrument, allow adequate working space and good depth of field. This is especially important when using an instrument with a large base. There are a variety of microscope stands available. Choose one that allows sufficient working space and adequate height of adjustment for the insemination instrument. A cool light is also needed. A fiber optic illuminator is preferable, a halogen or tungsten illuminator with a heat filter can also be used. L.E.D. light sources can also be used and offers an economical choice.

Stereomicroscopes and lights that are specifically suited to match the insemination instrument you choose can be provided. If you are interested in a microscope package with your instrument, please contact me for more details.

Source Of Carbon Dioxide (Return to the top)

A source of carbon dioxide gas to anesthetize the queen is necessary. A gas regulator that delivers a slow and continuous flow is required for the procedure. Tanks and regulators can be obtained from local gas & welding suppliers.