Black Queen Now White

[billdean]

I found my best queen in my biggest hive today. A Carnelian Black beauty. First time I have ever seen her. Well, I thought I would make it easier to find her next time so I decided to mark her. I had a little round trap and pinned her lightly to the frame. My paint stick was new, never before use and I had trouble getting the paint primed on the point. Finally I got a little paint on the stick and proceeded to mark her. When I press on the round cage to mark her a big glob of white paint came out all over the queen from the neck to the tip of the abdomen. Oh crap!!! I pull the cage off her real quick and she went running off across the cells. I hurried up and put the frame back in the hive. What have I done! Possibly killed my best queen.

[bwallace23350]

I think you are fine.

[billdean]

I think you are fine.

I hope your right. It's worried me to death all day. Would it be wise to just leave her alone now or should I check on her again in a few days?

[cao]

 Worst case senerio, they reject her and start new queen cells.  Best case senerio, she's fine and everythings normal.  Either way, what can you do to change the outcome by checking on them in a few days?  I would leave her alone for at least a week unless there is another reason that you need to get in the hive.   

[Acebird]

Worst case senerio, they reject her and start new queen cells.  Best case senerio, she's fine and everythings normal.  Either way, what can you do to change the outcome by checking on them in a few days?  I would leave her alone for at least a week unless there is another reason that you need to get in the hive.

That about sums it up.  Thumbs up

[Michael Bush]

I would not be SURE until she's survived a while, but she may be fine.  The biggest risk is if it plugs up her spiracles on her throax.  That's how she breathes...

[BeeMaster2]

If you are lucky, the bees may have removed most of the paint. If you put a wet queen back too soon, the sometimes do that. Sorry to say, they also sometimes replace her.
Jim

[billdean]

Well I couldn't stand it any longer. I had to check! Its been 4 days and when I opened up the hive she was on the 3rd frame in and still alive and moving on the frame. She was easy to spot! Her abdomen had white specks all over it but didn't look as bad as I imagined. Now hopefully she is still laying as good as she was before. I was so excited in seeing her alive I didn't even look for any eggs.

[BeeMaster2]

Glad she is ok.

[Acebird]

I was so excited in seeing her alive I didn't even look for any eggs.

Great news.  Bees survive in spite of human intervention.

[jimineycricket]

I hope you did not use up all your luck on that one thing.

jimmy

[billdean]

Well.....I don't depend on luck but do rely on faith that things will work out for the good.

And yes Acebird, the bees have survived "again" my many human errors