Please read carefully before ordering your queen bee.

Olivarez chooses their breeder queens based on the hive's performance in honey production, gentleness, brood-rearing viability, and overall ability to overwinter healthy and heavy. Also, OHB has worked with the "Tech Transfer Team," developed by world-renowned entomologist Marla Spivak, since before its official launch to identify and maintain desirable traits in our their stock. They have infused the "Minnesota Hygienic" and the "VSH" traits into their Italian stock, to enhance disease and mite resistance or tolerance.

Italian characteristics:

• Gentle and easy to manage (a good "beginner bee")
• Prolific brood producers
• Highly hygienic
• Good comb builders
• Excellent foragers
• Excellent honey producers

If you order a queen bee through our website, you must choose the in-store pickup option during the checkout process. We do not ship bees. Your queen will be at To Bee or Not To Bee after noon the first day following your order, provided that the store is open. For example; queens ordered Wednesday will be in-store on Thursday. Because the store is closed on Wednesday, queens ordered Tuesday and Wednesday will be available Thursday after noon.

Returns or refunds are not possible for queens