Product Overview
2027 Saskatraz Package Bees for Sale – 3 lb with Marked Queen | Iowa Pickup Only
AVAILABLE FOR PICKUP SPRING 2027 AT LAPPE'S BEE SUPPLY IN EAST PERU, IOWA!
PLEASE NOTE: THESE PACKAGE BEES ARE FOR LOCAL PICKUP ONLY. THEY WILL NOT BE SHIPPED.
Start your 2027 beekeeping season with our 3 lb Saskatraz package honey bees for sale! Whether you're establishing your first beehive, replacing winter colony losses, or expanding an existing apiary, Saskatraz honey bees are an excellent option for beekeepers interested in productive colonies and selectively developed honey bee genetics.
Saskatraz honey bees originate from a Canadian breeding program that emphasizes honey production, wintering ability, colony development, hygienic behavior, and improved natural tolerance to Varroa mites.
Each package includes approximately 3 pounds of live honey bees and one mated, marked Saskatraz queen housed in a protective queen cage.
Reserve your 2027 Saskatraz package bees today! Spring availability is limited, and package bees are a seasonal product.
2027 Saskatraz Package Bee Pickup Information
Pickup Location: Lappe's Bee Supply & Honey Farm – East Peru, Iowa
These Saskatraz package bees will be available for pickup during Spring 2027. We will send emails containing pickup information and scheduling details closer to April 2027.
- Local pickup only: Customers must pick up their package bees directly from our East Peru, Iowa location.
- No shipping: This particular product is not available for shipment.
- Pickup notifications: We will communicate pickup information and instructions by email.
- Contact information: Please provide a valid email address that you check regularly when placing your order.
- Pickup timing: Pickup arrangements are subject to bee availability, weather conditions, and the scheduled spring arrival of our package bees.
IMPORTANT: Please do not arrive to pick up your bees until you have received the appropriate pickup information from Lappe's Bee Supply.
Ordering Additional Beekeeping Equipment
If you are ordering beekeeping equipment that you would like to pick up at the same time as your Saskatraz package bees, you are welcome to include those items on the same order.
Additional equipment purchased on the same order will be held for pickup with your package bees.
If you would prefer to have your equipment shipped to you ahead of time so you can assemble and prepare your hive, please place your equipment on a separate order from your package bees.
What's Included with Your 3 lb Saskatraz Package Bees?
- Approximately 3 pounds of live honey bees: Thousands of worker bees ready to begin establishing a new colony.
- One mated, marked Saskatraz queen: A marked queen makes locating and identifying her during future hive inspections easier.
- Protective queen cage: The queen is housed separately to allow for proper introduction and acceptance by the colony.
A 3 lb package generally contains approximately 10,000 honey bees, although the exact number can vary depending on the size and weight of individual bees.
Unlike a nucleus colony, package bees do not include frames of drawn comb, brood, or stored honey. Package bees are intended to be installed into your prepared beehive equipment.
Important Instructions for Transporting Your Package Bees Home
Once you have picked up your Saskatraz package bees, proper transportation is extremely important.
Keep your package bees in a cool, protected, well-ventilated area and out of direct sunlight during transportation.
Never leave your package bees in a hot vehicle, enclosed trunk, or other area without adequate airflow.
Honey bees generate heat, and tightly enclosed spaces can become dangerously hot very quickly. Overheating can cause serious stress, kill worker bees, or negatively affect the queen's health and future laying performance.
Plan your trip home ahead of time and transport your bees directly to their prepared hive location whenever possible.
Your package bees become your responsibility once you accept them and leave our pickup location.
Lappe's Bee Supply Iowa Pickup Package Bee Quality Guarantee
At Lappe's Bee Supply, we want customers to be satisfied with the package bees they receive.
Our Highest Quality Guarantee applies to package honey bees picked up directly from our East Peru, Iowa location.
If you are not completely satisfied with your package of bees at the time of pickup, you do not have to accept that package. You may instead choose a complete refund of the purchase price for that package.
Customers must choose either to accept their package bees or receive the applicable refund. Customers cannot keep the package bees and also receive a complete refund.
Packages are distributed in order. We are unable to sort through packages or allow customers to select specific packages based on personal preference.
The Highest Quality Guarantee ends when the customer accepts the package bees and leaves our pickup location. After that point, transportation conditions, installation, queen introduction, colony management, and other events are the customer's responsibility.
This guarantee applies only to package bees picked up directly from Lappe's Bee Supply in East Peru, Iowa.
Please review our Package Honey Bees Terms & Conditions for additional policies and requirements.
Why Choose Saskatraz Honey Bees?
Saskatraz honey bees are the result of a selective breeding program developed in Saskatchewan, Canada. The program focuses on a combination of traits important to beekeepers, rather than selecting bees for one characteristic alone.
Selected for Honey Production
Honey production is one of the major selection goals of the Saskatraz breeding program.
Breeding colonies are evaluated for desirable productivity characteristics, including their ability to develop strong worker populations and collect nectar during available honey flows.
With favorable weather, adequate forage, and proper management, Saskatraz colonies can develop into productive honey-producing colonies.
Actual honey production varies depending on colony strength, local nectar sources, environmental conditions, and beekeeper management.
Developed with Wintering Ability in Mind
Wintering ability has been an important consideration in the Saskatraz breeding program, which originated in Saskatchewan's challenging northern climate.
These breeding goals make Saskatraz genetics appealing to beekeepers interested in colonies selected with cold-season survival and performance in mind.
However, successful overwintering is never guaranteed. Proper winter preparation, adequate food stores, healthy queens, and effective Varroa mite management remain essential.
Selected for Improved Varroa Mite Tolerance
The Saskatraz breeding program places an emphasis on improving natural tolerance to Varroa mites through selective breeding.
Some Saskatraz breeding families have demonstrated desirable mite-related characteristics, including hygienic behavior and Varroa-sensitive hygiene.
Important: Saskatraz bees are not guaranteed to be mite-resistant or mite-free. Individual colonies can vary, and beekeepers must continue monitoring mite levels and maintaining an appropriate seasonal treatment program.
Hygienic Behavior and Colony Health
Hygienic behavior is another characteristic evaluated within the Saskatraz breeding program.
Honey bees displaying hygienic behavior can identify and remove certain unhealthy or abnormal brood from the colony. This behavior can contribute to colony defense against some brood diseases and pests.
Hygienic behavior does not make a colony immune to disease, and routine colony health management remains necessary.
Spring Colony Development
Saskatraz breeding also considers colony development and the ability to build worker populations when spring conditions become favorable.
Strong spring growth helps colonies establish comb, raise brood, and prepare for nectar flows.
Actual population growth depends on queen performance, available pollen and nectar, weather conditions, supplemental feeding, and colony health.
Temperament and Manageability
Temperament is considered in Saskatraz breeding selection. However, because the breeding population contains multiple genetic families, individual colonies can vary in behavior.
Weather, nectar availability, queen condition, and management practices also influence how a colony behaves during inspections.
Preparing for Your Saskatraz Package Bees
We recommend having your beehive assembled, positioned, and completely ready before your scheduled pickup date.
Before bringing your bees home, make sure you have:
- A properly assembled Langstroth beehive with frames and foundation.
- A sturdy hive stand and suitable apiary location.
- A bee feeder and an appropriate feeding plan.
- Protective clothing, gloves, and a veil.
- A hive tool and smoker.
- A reliable water source near your apiary.
- A plan for installing your package bees and introducing their queen.
Feeding Newly Installed Saskatraz Package Bees
Newly installed package bees must establish their colony, draw comb, and begin raising brood.
Supplemental feeding is often beneficial when natural nectar sources are limited or when package bees are installed on undrawn foundation.
Many beekeepers provide 1:1 sugar syrup during spring colony establishment to encourage comb building and supply an accessible food source.
Continue monitoring the colony's food supply and adjust feeding according to available forage and colony development.
Introducing Your Saskatraz Queen
Your package includes a mated, marked Saskatraz queen in a protective queen cage.
Proper queen introduction is important for establishing a successful colony. Follow the installation and queen-release instructions supplied with your package.
Do not directly release the queen unless specifically instructed to do so.
Allow the colony sufficient time to accept the queen and begin establishing itself. Avoid unnecessary disturbances during this important period.
Why Buy Your Saskatraz Package Bees from Lappe's Bee Supply?
At Lappe's Bee Supply & Honey Farm, we've been involved in beekeeping since 1978. We understand how important it is to begin the season with quality honey bees, dependable equipment, and helpful information.
When you reserve your 2027 Saskatraz package bees for Iowa pickup, you receive:
- Convenient pickup at our East Peru, Iowa location.
- Approximately 3 pounds of live honey bees for establishing a new colony.
- A mated, marked Saskatraz queen included with your package.
- Our Iowa Pickup Highest Quality Guarantee at the time of pickup.
- Helpful beekeeping information for beginner and experienced beekeepers.
- Access to beekeeping equipment and supplies to help you prepare for your bees.
- Service from an established, family-owned beekeeping business with decades of hands-on beekeeping experience.
Frequently Asked Questions About Saskatraz Package Bees for Iowa Pickup
When will my 2027 Saskatraz package bees be available for pickup?
Our Saskatraz package bees are expected to be available during Spring 2027. We will send pickup information and scheduling details by email closer to April 2027.
Where do I pick up my Saskatraz package bees?
Package bees must be picked up directly from Lappe's Bee Supply & Honey Farm in East Peru, Iowa.
Can my Saskatraz package bees be shipped?
No. This product is available for Iowa pickup only and cannot be shipped. Please select an appropriate shipped package bee listing if you need delivery to a designated Post Office.
How many bees are in a 3 lb Saskatraz package?
A 3 lb package generally contains approximately 10,000 honey bees, although the exact number varies.
Does my Saskatraz package include a queen?
Yes. Each package includes one mated, marked Saskatraz queen housed in a protective queen cage.
Are Saskatraz honey bees resistant to Varroa mites?
Saskatraz bees originate from a breeding program that emphasizes improved natural Varroa mite tolerance. Individual colonies vary, and no package is guaranteed to be mite-resistant. Regular monitoring and appropriate seasonal treatments remain necessary.
Are Saskatraz bees suitable for cold climates?
Wintering ability is an important goal of the Saskatraz breeding program. However, successful overwintering depends on colony health, adequate food reserves, weather conditions, and proper management.
Can I order beekeeping equipment with my package bees?
Yes. Equipment purchased on the same order will be held for pickup with your bees. If you want equipment shipped ahead of time, please place it on a separate order.
How should I transport my package bees home?
Transport your package bees in a cool, protected, well-ventilated area out of direct sunlight. Never leave live bees in an overheated vehicle or enclosed area without adequate airflow.
What if I'm not satisfied with my package bees at pickup?
Under our Iowa Pickup Highest Quality Guarantee, you may decline the package at the time of pickup and receive a complete refund of its purchase price. You cannot retain the package and receive a complete refund. The guarantee ends when you accept the package and leave our pickup location.
Reserve Your 2027 Saskatraz Package Bees for Iowa Pickup!
2027 Saskatraz Package Bees – Approximately 3 lb with Mated, Marked Queen
IOWA PICKUP ONLY – EAST PERU, IOWA
Prepare for the upcoming beekeeping season with a honey bee breeding population developed with an emphasis on honey production, wintering ability, colony health, and improved natural Varroa mite tolerance.
Spring package bee availability is seasonal, and pickup dates are subject to bee availability and weather conditions.
Reserve your 2027 Saskatraz package bees today!
Please review our Package Honey Bees Terms & Conditions before placing your order.
Questions? Email [email protected].
