Queens: Marked, Clipped or Neither?

Robo · June 04, 2004, 11:11:21 AM

Everyone knows my propensity towards marking queens. Just curious to what folks are doing.

Beth Kirkley · June 04, 2004, 01:13:20 PM

Well, I ordered my queens marked, but they didn't come that way. The first time I just took as a simple mistake. The second time I got irritated. Next time I'll throw a big fit BEFORE getting the queens to make sure they know I'm serious.

Beth

Lechwe · June 06, 2004, 09:37:05 PM

Mine are not marked. I kind of would like to have them marked since it would make it much easier to find her.

mark · June 07, 2004, 03:18:17 PM

it's little effort to take a bottle of white out with you next time you go in the hive. the queen can be marked while she is still on the brood frame with just a dab on her thorax. watch for a bit to see the workers aren't upset and return the frame. you can do the same as the wing clipping if you like. one side for even years the other for odd. it'll do good enough to let you know what you need to.

TJ · June 17, 2004, 04:00:50 PM

I ordered 2 marked and clipped Queens this spring. One has already been replaced. I don't know why, everything seemed to be OK. I also have a swarm I captured and I haven't seen any Queen sign after 2 weeks. Time to check again. I won't bother in the future with marking because ultimately it is eggs I will be looking for, and I can find those if they are present.

beemaster · June 17, 2004, 06:34:37 PM

Robo:

I added an additional option so I could participate - I have clipped and unclipped - but NONE are marked.

The Swarm that Found Me - I'm leaving her be, if she couldn't fly, I would NOT have that colony.

celtic · June 25, 2004, 06:54:34 PM

I like marked queens because they tell me the hive has not been supercedded by an unkown ie(Africnized).

Lesli · July 03, 2004, 04:59:15 PM

I'd prefer marked queens, but since I got my nucs late in the season, I didn't have a choice in the matter. So for now, unmarked, but my preference would be marked, for easy visibility.

I'm happy to say that I have spotted both queens, though, in spite of this!

Robo · July 03, 2004, 05:03:35 PM

Lesli,

Go to the craft store and buy yourself a Testors paint marker. Next time you spot them, give them a dap with the marker on their thorax.

Lesli · July 03, 2004, 05:26:37 PM

Yep. If the next queen I get for hive one isn't marked when she's delivered, she will be soon. Besides making them easy to spot, it's a surefire way of know whether there was supercedure.