Recently I worked 6 hives for a beekeeper that needed my strong back. I went into 3 of the hives looking for a queen... found 2.
Now I had been in my hives a BUNCH.... and never could find the queen. I went out today and found the queen in hive #1!!! Took about 10 minutes for me to find her this time.
(http://lh6.ggpht.com/_DcwdhAFnsoM/S_rQS1Yg97I/AAAAAAAAAEk/x5G5GJAyWZE/s640/DSCF1346.JPG)
Dont know what version of honeybee I have, but I am tickled to death that I found her!
Thanks
Mark
PS. I guess this queen finding thing DOES get easier with experience.
I went my whole first year with one hive and never did find the queen. Saw the eggs and larva so I felt alright but never the queen. Now this year I have been seeing her most of the time. I still really don't look though, as long as I see larva and capped brood I feel good and try not to manipulate more than I have to.