What type of larvae should be selected for grafting frames?

Choosing 3-6 day old larvae for grafting frames is ideal because this age corresponds to the stage when larvae are in their optimal growth phase and can easily be accepted by nurse bees in a queen rearing operation. At this age, they are still young enough to take on a queen cell structure but also mature enough to ensure good vigor and health when they develop into new queens.

Grafting too early, such as with 1-2 day old larvae, may result in lower acceptance rates, as these extremely young larvae are less developed and can be more sensitive to handling. Similarly, selecting larvae that are 7-10 days old might not yield the best results either, as they are getting closer to becoming pupae and are less suitable for queen rearing. Lastly, using larvae older than 10 days is not advisable, as they are too close to pupation, and their acceptance as queen cell candidates would be problematic.

Thus, the selection of 3-6 day old larvae balances the factors of growth, acceptance, and successful maturation into viable queens, making this the optimal choice for grafting in a queen rearing scenario.