Object number
2012/386/1-14
Creator
Description
A honey bee artificial inseminator, complete with tool kit. Made in the USA, used by Mr. Henry Leach, a beekeeper in Clitheroe, Lancashire
This is a honey bee artificial inseminator, complete with tool kit and wooden case. It consists of the metal inseminator on a heavy, metal stand. The tool kit comprises a piece of wood with metal clasps holding the tools which are: a pair of tweezers; a thin paintbrush; a long, plastic cylinder; a small Allen key; and four metal hooks. The tools are not part of the original set, but were selected to fulfil the purpose of insemination. The case is rectangular with a leather handle and detachable door and contains a separate butterfly nut and bolt to use to fix the inseminator inside the case. On the inseminator stand is a label saying, 'ROBERTS & MACKENSEN APPARATUS FOR QUEEN BEE INSEMINATION UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN, MADISON, U.S.A.' A manual for the artificial insemination of queen bees was donated with the inseminator. The inseminator was used by Mr. Henry Leach, a beekeeper in Clitheroe, Lancashire, who was born in 1911 and died in 2007. Mr Leach made the wooden case to keep the inseminator and kit. As honey bees naturally mate in mid-air, it is not possible to recreate this artificially and therefore the inseminator is used by those who want to breed bees selectively. A carbon dioxide cylinder and a binocular microscope are also needed to carry out the insemination. The queen bee is positioned inside the plastic tube on the side of the inseminator with the head pointing downwards. Carbon dioxide is then used to anaesthetise her. The two thin, metal hooks from both ends of the apparatus, one named the sting hook, the other named the ventral hook, hold the dorsal plate and ventral plate in the bee's abdomen apart, allowing the syringe to enter and inseminate the bee. The design of this inseminator is still used.
Physical description
1 bee inseminator with tool kit: metal; wood; leather; plastic; good condition
Label Text
Bee inseminator. Used by a beekeeper in Clitheroe, this inseminator was used for selective breeding in bees. As bees usually mate in mid-air, the queen must be anaesthetised before insemination can take place. This is achieved by placing the bee inside the plastic tube and introducing carbon dioxide. Thin metal hooks hold the queen's abdominal plates in place while a syringe inseminates her. These types of inseminators are still used today. Selective breeding in bees tends to be more complicated than with other livestock, due to various factors - such as the fact that male bees are born from unfertilised eggs and have no father.
Archival history
Letter, an acquaintance to Mr Leach, 23 May 1948 – 'Station House, // WICKENBY, // Lincoln. //May 23rd 1948. // Dear Mr. Leach, // Thank you very much indeed for the loan of the enclosed, which I have read with great interest, and I shall be very interested to hear of your experiments. Although articifical insemination does not appeal to me, I have an open mind on the subject. // It was indeed a pleasure to Mrs. Frow and myself to make the acquaintance of Mrs. Leach, yourself, and family, and we do hope that when you come this way again you will make a point of calling to see us and have a cup of tea, when we can exchange ideas of mutual interest. // With kindest regards from us to you all.', Email, David Notton to MERL, 22 October 2012 - 'Regarding our recent phonecall about the honeybee inseminator for offer to MERL. This includes the machine itself (see attached figure) plus carrying case, set of tools, instruction manual, and related correspondence. The longest dimension of the carrying case is 28 cm. It was used by Mr Henry Leach (1911-2007) a Lancashire beekeeper and donated to the NHM by his son, Dr Guy Leach with the understanding that it could be transferred to MERL if appropriate. Please let me know if you would like to acquire it for the MERL collection.', Email, David Notton to MERL, 25 October 2012 - 'Thanks for getting back to me - to answer your questions: // For context, there is a letter from Dr Leach describing his father as a beekeeper from Clitheroe Lancashire and also a letter from an acquaintance of Mr Leach regarding the loan of the equipment in 1948 and referring to Mr Leach's experiments...', Miscellaneous note – 'Dept of Economic Entomology // 105 King Hall Univ of Wisconsin Madison Wis // D. C. L. Farran [?] // US. Bee Cul Labs // Form E 639788 // Import Licence M/730 dated 22 Apr 1948 // Ref. LIP 172966/'
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