LATSHAW APIARIES 

Latshaw Instrument

($1595.00 plus shipping)

This award winning instrument represents the latest design in an effort to simplify the insemination procedure, while enhancing the overall functionality of the instrument.  When designing this instrument, I wanted something that improved on existing technology.  I wanted an instrument that was simple, lightweight, compact, user friendly, and most of all functional.  The Latshaw Instrument shown here today is the result of many years of constant improvement and testing.

MORE EFFICIENT AND EASIER TO LEARN.....

The Latshaw Instrument utilizes the "flexible" insemination technique which uses a pair of forceps and a modified ventral hook instead of the standard sting and ventral hook.  The "flexible" insemination technique is easier to learn and more efficient than the traditional insemination technique which uses a standard sting and ventral hook.

"After 5 years experience using forceps instead of a dorsal hook (sting hook), we have found that the insemination procedure can be accomplished with the same success rate in about 20% less time........In teaching classes at the University of Western Sydney (Hawkesbury), Australia and at the bee research institues in Kirchhain, and in Oberursel, Germany the 'flexible insemination technique' was rapidly learned by beekeepers."  (Kuhnert, M.E. and H.H. Laidlaw. 1994. Simplified apparatus for instrumental insemination of queen bees with the flexible insemination techinque. Apidologie 25: 144-154.)

The complete Latshaw Instrument as shown here is precision machined from aluminum, and protected with a black anodized coating.  Its precision machining and durable construction will insure many years of quality use with accurate and direct control of movements.

Key Features:

This simple yet elegant design is fast and efficient.  I have found that it offers a high degree of repeatability and is ideally suited for the research and commercial setting.  Whether you need to inseminate 20 queens or 100 queens this is the instrument.  I would not offer this instrument without extensive evaluation. I have inseminated thousands of  queens using the Latshaw Instrument with an average insemination time of 6.1 minutes per queen, 3.6 minutes to collect 8µl of semen and 2.5 minutes to inseminate, clip, mark and record the information for each queen.

When selecting an instrument it is important to choose one that is adjustable to your needs.  The Latshaw Instrument offers a degree of flexibility not found in other instruments.  Each instrument can be quickly and easily changed to accommodate the right or left hand user, a key feature which had been overlooked before the design of this instrument.

As well as being adjustable for the right or left hand user, the design of the Latshaw Instrument allows for 360 degree rotation of the main arm.  For semen collection, the arm can be rotated 180 degrees to provide a clear working space which greatly facilitates the procedure.

Provided with each instrument is the Latshaw Syringe, which is modeled after the Harbo syringe.  This syringe allows for the collection of large quantities of semen in detachable 100µl storage tubes for shipment of storage for use at a later time.  The unit is controlled by hydraulic pressure which is regulated by the syringe which I designed.  When designing this piece, I took into account the standard semen dose for an inseminated queen is 8µl and calibrated the syringe to 8µl per rotation.  However, the syringe is also calibrated in 1µl increments for more detailed work.  This syringe offers positive control, which means that fluid movement is regulated by turning the knob clockwise or counter-clockwise and is equally responsive in either direction.  It is also important to note that the design of this syringe greatly reduces the potential for air locks or air bubbles to form in the system.  All connections are smooth to eliminate large changes in tubing diameter where air bubbles can become trapped which can reduce the responsiveness and accuracy of the syringe.

This instrument was designed to be user friendly.  It is lightweight and very portable.  Assembly or disassembly of the instrument takes only seconds.  All critical angles are preset by the instrument design.  Movements and angles are adjustable to accommodate personal preferences, but require no alignment by the operator.  To dissemble the instrument, simply remove the main arm from the base and place it in the carrying case.  There is no need to align critical angles and setup will be just as easy.  Last, but certainly not least, the Latshaw Instrument comes complete with a padded carrying case for convenient travel.  Each season I travel to perform insemination work at other beekeeping operations, with that in mind, I wanted an instrument that could be easily and safely transported without fear of damaging the instrument.  The Latshaw Instrument is easy to pack away and store in your travel bags without concern.

To order please contact:

 Dr. Joseph S. Latshaw

6050 Harlem Road

New Albany, Ohio 43054

USA

Tel: 614-855-9065

Email: ohioqb@aol.com

Send mail to ohioqb@aol.com with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: 12/28/09

© 2007 Latshaw Apiaries