Is Marking The Queen Bee A Good Idea?
Whenever you desperately need to find a queen in the colony, it's ALWAYS one that you haven't yet marked. I have spent hours looking for unmarked queens but now, I make sure they are all marked early in the season and it makes my beekeeping inspections so much easier. Should I mark the queen bee? In all beekeeping scenarios, the answer is yes.
In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the why, when, and how of marking a queen bee, exploring the benefits and potential drawbacks. By the end of this article, you'll have a deeper understanding of the art of queen bee marking and its significance in beekeeping.
Before we start, if you are looking to buy queen bees, we stock the very best Buckfast genetics found within Europe at Black Mountain Honey and send queens across the UK.
Our favourite queen is the F1 Buckfast Queen, which is available here:
The Importance of Identifying the Queen Bee
The queen bee serves as the heart of a bee colony, playing a pivotal role in maintaining harmony and productivity. Identifying her amidst the thousands of worker bees is not only a fascinating skill for beekeepers but also a practical necessity. See how difficult it can be to see a queen when she isn't marked!
Marking the queen bee facilitates colony management, aids in tracking her age, and helps prevent accidental replacement, ensuring the colony's stability.
When to Mark a Queen Bee
Timing is crucial when it comes to marking a queen bee. Ideally, this task should be undertaken during a hive inspection when the colony is calm and the weather is favourable. Spring or early summer is often the best time to mark the queen, as the hive is typically more docile during these periods. It's also much easier to find the queen when there aren't as many bees in the hive. It's essential to choose a day when the bees are not agitated, reducing the risk of disturbance within the hive.
How to Mark a Queen Bee
First up, you need to choose what type of paint you are going to use. We like to use TOMA oil based paint pens as we find the mark lasts for much longer than the water based pens.
Marking a queen bee requires precision and a gentle touch to avoid causing stress to the hive. Follow these steps to ensure a smooth and successful process:
Gather the Necessary Equipment:
Queen marking cage. Marking pen with a gentle, non-toxic ink (typically, colours like white, yellow, or bright blue are used). We use TOMA oil based pens
Locate the Queen:
Conduct a thorough inspection of the hive frames to locate the queen. Be patient and gentle to avoid causing disruption.
Isolate the Queen:
Once the queen is identified, use a queen marking cage to gently isolate her from the rest of the colony. This step helps in minimising stress for both the queen and the worker bees.
Marking the Queen:
Carefully take the queen from the cage and hold her gently with the thorax exposed.
Use the marking pen to apply a small dot on the queen's thorax.
Allow the ink to dry for a few moments before returning the queen to the hive.
Alternatively, if you pin her down correctly in the cage, you can mark her through the cage. This is much easier and will cause less damage to the queen.