Queen excluder
- Pronunciation
- /kween ik-SKLOO-dur/
- Category
- Beekeeping equipment
- Singular
- Queen excluder
- Plural
- Queen excluders
Definition
A device used in beekeeping to restrict the queen bee's access to certain parts of the hive, typically the honey supers, allowing only worker bees to pass through.
Etymology
Derived from 'queen', referring to the queen bee, and 'excluder', from the verb 'exclude', meaning to prevent from entering.
Example
Beekeepers often use a queen excluder to ensure that the queen does not lay eggs in the honey supers.
Related Terms
- Hive
- Worker bee
- Honey super
- Beekeeping
Usage Notes
Queen excluders are typically made of a grid of wire or plastic and must be checked regularly to ensure they are not causing congestion in the hive.