Got a mismarked queen from Wilbanks

Mklangelo · June 07, 2007, 08:41:28 AM

It's marked turquoise or blue I guess, Isn't it supposed to be marked yellow for 07?

Robo · June 07, 2007, 09:08:15 AM

A good portion of breeders don't follow the color code standard. Go figure......

beekeeperookie · June 07, 2007, 09:08:47 AM

I got two queens this year from two different apriarys (sorry bad spelling) down in GA. One was white the other package queen had a red dot

BeeHopper · June 07, 2007, 10:41:31 AM

I have a pair of Queens arriving today from Wilbanks. I don't care what color they are as long they're alive and marked . I am sitting here awaiting for the UPS truck :-D

Update : Queens arrived shortly before 10 am marked BLUE.

Mklangelo · June 07, 2007, 11:35:41 AM

I called Wilbanks. They said blue was the easiest color for people to see. (I would think yellow would be) If you want em' marked for the year, you have to specify.

cindi2 · June 07, 2007, 12:59:38 PM

I honestly think that the colour coding should be followed to the letter. Every year has a different colour and that should definitely be in place. I think it rather confusing to have different coloured queens, how could one know for sure what year the queen was marked, to take that to the limit.

I don't have any marked queens, it certainly would be easier to find them marked, I agree. It was kind of funny. When I got my packages and nucs, they all had Kona Italian queens, very light golden colour. They stood out very much in with the darker coloured bees, but I think as the genetics of the hive change, these queens will not be nearly as discernable. Welll, well, well. Have a wonderful day, great life, and love that life you're livin'. Cindi

pdmattox · June 07, 2007, 07:52:39 PM

the ones i ordered from wilbanks last year were blue also.

skullring · June 07, 2007, 09:13:39 PM

yes I wish they would stick with the color chart then it would serve its purpose of knowing what year the queen is from. This year mine was red I am mostly color blind to red so I find her just by the way she looks I can barely see the red paint. I guess I just need to work on my queen location skills anyway. An old beekeeper told me "If God wanted paint on them he would have put it on them" Next year I will save my dollar.

Ross · June 08, 2007, 10:28:29 AM

Breeders with more than one line of bees often mark them based on race rather than year.

Kirk-o · June 09, 2007, 05:58:19 PM

Hey if she is a good queen who cares I never get queens marked anyway.
kirko