Doubles stainless steel grafting tool DE

Professional Double-Sided Stainless Steel Grafting Tool

Stainless steel grafting tool is among the essential equipment for beekeepers who engage in targeted queen rearing. It enables precise and gentle transfer of the youngest larvae into artificial queen cell cups as well as into prepared natural queen cells. Grafting is today the most widespread and simultaneously very effective method for obtaining young queens from a selected genetic line – from larvae and colonies that you choose yourself. Thanks to its well-thought-out shape and secure grip, this tool is comfortable to work with even for beginners. With proper technique, it is not uncommon to achieve larval acceptance rates over 90%.

Main Features and Benefits for Beekeepers

Quality stainless steel and easy disinfection: The tool is made from durable stainless steel. It does not corrode, withstands routine cleaning and disinfection well, and is therefore suitable for hygienic queen rearing, where tool cleanliness plays a crucial role.

Practical double-sided design: One end features a fine, flexible tip tapered to approximately 2 mm for delicate work with larvae. The thin end facilitates picking up even very young larvae and helps minimize damage to them. More experienced beekeepers will appreciate being able to fine-tune the tip according to their technique (e.g., gently adjust with a diamond file or slightly bend to a suitable angle). The other end is widened into a broad flat surface that serves as a spatula for cleaning queen cell cups of dried royal jelly, wax, or propolis.

Firm grip and stability during transfer: The center section is prominently grooved, so the tool does not slip in your fingers even during extended work, in heat, or when wearing gloves. Transfer of fragile larvae is therefore stable, precise, and gentle.

Recommended Procedure and Tips for Successful Grafting

For higher success rates, first place one small drop of diluted royal jelly or clean water into the queen cell cups. A larger amount of liquid is harder to retain when hanging the cups in the rearing frame (upside down). Then remove the brood comb with eggs and youngest larvae. In practice, it is often easier to work on a darker, repeatedly used comb, where the white larva is more visible than on virgin comb.

The queen typically lays from the center toward the edges. Therefore, you will find older larvae in the middle, while the correct youngest larvae are usually in the transition zone between eggs and older brood. The correct larva already lies at the bottom of the cell (an egg stands upright) and has the shape of a small "crescent," not yet a closed semicircle. Against the light, a small gleam of royal jelly is usually visible at the bottom of the cell – the larva must not be "dry."

Always pick up the larva carefully from the dorsal side. Then transfer it to the cup and place it on the prepared drop by gently immersing the tip of the tool into the liquid – the larva will usually slide off smoothly on its own. Beginners may find it helpful to shorten the cells with a warm knife to approximately half their height for better access and visibility. Magnifying grafting glasses with LED lighting are also useful, as they help you better distinguish the age of larvae.

Technical Specifications Table