What is the most visible paint color to mark queens with? I am not concerned about the year to color code but visibility. Is there any other paint to use than the marking kit paints? If so where do I get them?
Thanks
ajm
The most visible would be any color other than inner hive tones perhaps a bright tint. I use Testors model paint and a match stick. Following the convention of queen colors allows for management, as you know 2008 would be red. But you could do something like red with a white dot. Whatever works and makes sense to you is the best choice IMHO.
David
I would say yellow or white would probably show up best. But there are also some florescent colors out there that would probably show up good too.
Bright Green shows up really well against all that brown. Red is good too. Yellow and white are nice when new, but fade or get dirty and don't show so well later.
Can you use any kind of paint pen. Is it harmful?
I dont know and have not been able to find any definitive answer to whether or not oil based paint is bad. I know some people use it and it seem to work for them. The paint markers the bee suppliers sell are water based.
I did some research and found a supplier of the Posca Paint Markers who sells them for 2.39 each. That is a lot better then 6.25 that dadant is selling them for. I ordered fine point markers which I think makes it a lot less likely to get too much paint on the queen. I got one of each of the five standard queen marking colors and my total bill was approx 14.50 including shipping.
Go to http://www.durablesupply.com/pospainmar.html if you want to order some. The shipping on the shopping cart said 6.95 but the actual shipping was only 2.something. So you may want to call your order in to make sure that you can get the USPS shipping for 2.50 ish.
i have used dykem paint pens with no noticable problems, white out which peals off after a while as does any latex paint. nail polish works well also and is still visible after 2 years. i usually marked the queen right on the frame as i've gotten clumsy in me old age and don't want to hurt her trying to catch and hold.
Blue and green bad on dark queens!!!
I find white the best for visibility, but i have feral bees that are dark. I've used Testor's pen pens with no issues (still have some white 06ers going strong). Blue Sky Bee Supply has the POSCA pens for $5, and they were offering free shipping on them at one point.
Quote from: Greg Peck on June 15, 2008, 01:46:43 PM
I did some research and found a supplier of the Posca Paint Markers who sells them for 2.39 each. That is a lot better then 6.25 that dadant is selling them for. I ordered fine point markers which I think makes it a lot less likely to get too much paint on the queen. I got one of each of the five standard queen marking colors and my total bill was approx 14.50 including shipping.
Go to http://www.durablesupply.com/pospainmar.html if you want to order some. The shipping on the shopping cart said 6.95 but the actual shipping was only 2.something. So you may want to call your order in to make sure that you can get the USPS shipping for 2.50 ish.
Guess I should read the whole post and not just skim thru them. Yes this is a great price, thanks Greg, I just ordered some replacements. I do find the Posca pens easier to work with then the Testors. The Testor's seem to be thinner paint and runs where the Posca doesn't. I ordered the medium tip because that is what I have now and they work well. A couple of dabs and your done. I think it would take longer to get a good size spot with the fine tip and more chances of getting it on her wings and head as she wiggles around. Just my 2 cents.
This is an interesting thread. I spend myriads of time one day last spring looking for something to mark the queens with that I was getting. I never did find a suitable pen. The queens never got marked. I am in Canada, (as you mostly know, hee, hee) and we don't have the products that are in the states. I imagine that the bee stores have queen marking pens, but that is long enough away that I don't want to travel, I don't want to pay any shipping charges, (seems kind of redundant to me), so I am grasping at thin air. I know that for surely, at least one female around my place must have finger nail polish, and I bet she had red.....red is the colour for 08 and my queens are all from 08 except for one from last year, she could be the unmarked one, or white, now where could I find white fingernail polish.....thinking....nope, not a thought there. Oh well, gonna find some red polish and as I work each hive, if I get a chance, I'll mark. The hives are getting pretty full and it is not always easy to find that girl....beautiful and most wonderful day, loving and living life, Cindi
Yes, from what I have read just searching, white seems to be the most obvious color to use. I think that all beginning beeks should practice marking queens. Actually since drones don't sting, and they are easy to catch, perhaps they could be used for practice. My first marking was pretty sloppy, too much paint. LOL. Just my .02.
David
Some years back the emergency response folks began painting all their equipment that neon lime-green color in lieu of the traditional red. They claimed it was more easily seen. Just a thought.
I think The fire departments have changed that lime green back to Red & White [ & chrome ] sometime ago.
Lime green didn't show up as well as original thaught, seems it wasn't an attention getter, per Fire Engineer magazine.
Our little town just got a new $750,000 Red & White & Chrome one !!
Bee-Bop
hey cindi
pink nail polish shows up real nice. my wife doesn't use polish so i just asked a co-worker if she had any bottles she was ready to trash. she gave me the pink.