Sunday, 7 July 2019

Queen marking

Job done -  only possible when you have a Bee Buddy to provide a second pair of eyes!! QB got so excited I forgot to take photo. of the marking ceremony. Below is all you need + a steady hand!

 
Red is 2018 Q. colour.
As you see below This Q. is a very good layer.  nice regular pattern - no gaps.  Since starting this I have successfully marked all (4) my last year's queens.


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1 comment:

  1. The Healing Honey Blog19 October 2023 at 05:45

    Queen marking is a common practice in beekeeping that involves identifying the queen bee within a hive by placing a small dot or mark on her thorax. This helps beekeepers keep track of the queen's age and overall health, as well as monitor her performance in the hive. Here are some important points to consider when it comes to queen marking:

    1. **Color Codes**: Queen bees are typically marked with a small dot of paint or a numbered tag. Different colors correspond to different years, which allows beekeepers to determine the age of the queen. The standard color code is usually white for years ending in 1 or 6, yellow for 2 or 7, red for 3 or 8, green for 4 or 9, and blue for 5 or 0.

    2. **Identification**: Queen marking makes it easier to locate the queen during hive inspections. This is especially important when conducting tasks like requeening, swarm prevention, or checking for signs of disease or brood patterns.

    3. **Health Assessment**: By marking the queen, beekeepers can observe her behavior, egg-laying pattern, and overall condition. If the queen's performance declines, it might be an indication that the hive needs attention or that it's time to requeen.

    4. **Genetics**: Queen marking can also help beekeepers track the genetics of their colonies. It allows them to know which queen is responsible for a particular hive's genetics, which can be crucial for breeding purposes and maintaining desirable traits in the bee population.

    5. **Record Keeping**: Accurate record-keeping is essential in beekeeping, and queen marking is a valuable tool in this regard. Beekeepers can log the date and color code of each marked queen, helping them maintain a history of the hive's queens and their performance over time.

    6. **Cautions**: While queen marking can be beneficial, it's important to be gentle when handling the queen, as she is the hive's most critical member. Careless handling can lead to injuries or stress that may affect her performance.

    Remember that queen marking should be done with care, using non-toxic paint or markers specifically designed for this purpose. It's a valuable practice for beekeepers, enabling them to better manage and understand the dynamics of their beehives while promoting healthy and productive colonies.

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