Yanke semen

David Yanke has started inseminating — and he is courting publicity. According to the New Zealand Herald, he is on a crusade against varroa.

With the agreement of the New Zealand Government, Yanke has imported 0.8 ml of semen (enough to impregnate 61 virgin queens) from Carnica bees from Germany and is about to change the face of Kiwi beekeeping — maybe. New Zealand's bees are currently supposed to be of an Italian strain. By bringing in new genes, Yanke hopes to introduce hybrid vigour. But there are concerns about introducing viruses and perhaps inducing more swarming. Only time will tell.