Queen Marking Unleashed

-A queen, with a touch of color.

Hey Hive Heroes! ✨ So, you’re a queen bee enthusiast, and you’ve decided it’s time to give your regal ladies a little flair. Queen marking is the way to go, but let me share the do’s and don’ts so you can skip the beekeeping bloopers.

Gear Up

Forget the messy paint brushes and fiddly match sticks. We’re talking precision and cleanliness here. Grab a small rod or nail, with a rounded end that’ll touch the queen’s thorax oh-so-gently.

Paint Prep

No dipping the rod into the paint bottle, please! Drill a hole in the paint bottle’s lid, insert the rod, and shake it up. Excess paint gets scraped off, leaving you with just the right amount. After marking, stick the rod back in the bottle for safekeeping.

Paint Picks

Skip the confusing choices. Acrylic latex enamel is your new bee BFF. Easy to find, water-based, and no bee irritation. It dries a tad slower than other options but keeps things neat.

Colors Code

Certain colors are like secret queen agent codes, showing the last digit of the marking year. Handy if you’re into selling marked queens.

Catch That Queen

No fancy gadgets needed; it’s quicker and safer to catch her by hand. Approach from behind, grab her by the wings’ back end with your index finger and thumb. Easy peasy, trust me.

Marking Maneuvers

Once you’ve got her, create a queen catwalk. Palms facing each other, point the longest finger toward the palm holding the queen. Touch her gently, let her grab on, and use your index finger and thumb to delicately squeeze her thorax.

Alternative Method

Some beekeepers prefer the three-legged hold. Touch the queen to the index finger’s tip, press the thumb against the finger, and voilà! More control but less regal.

Queen, Set, Go!

Carefully touch the queen’s thorax with the rod, stick it back in the bottle, and let the paint spot dry. Don’t test it by touching; mark something else first. Once dry, release her back into the hive with the grace of a royal debutante.

Bonus: Worker Bees

Workers get a fashionable mark on top of the abdomen, no picking up necessary. Mix it up with spots and color combos for that bee fashionista vibe.

Buzzworthy Tips

Always test a new paint on drones before unleashing it on the queens. Nobody wants a bee beauty faux pas.

Now you’re all set to mark your queens like a pro. Go ahead, add a touch of color to your hive royalty!

Bee-utifully yours, D 🐝🤠