Queen with color mark or glued numbered disc on thoraxthorax:
the middle region of the adult bee body, which lies in between the head and the abdomen; consists of three segments: pro-, meso-, and meta-thorax; thorax attachments include three pairs of legs and two pairs of wings
; alternately, queen wing cut.
Queen with colored paint mark on thoraxthorax:
the middle region of the adult bee body, which lies in between the head and the abdomen; consists of three segments: pro-, meso-, and meta-thorax; thorax attachments include three pairs of legs and two pairs of wings
or numbered disc glued to thoraxthorax:
the middle region of the adult bee body, which lies in between the head and the abdomen; consists of three segments: pro-, meso-, and meta-thorax; thorax attachments include three pairs of legs and two pairs of wings
. Alternately, part of queen's forewing is cut. A color spot or disc helps a person find a queen in a colony and confirms the year the queen was introduced (if the queen is marked according to the international marking code). When marking, it is important to avoid getting paint or glue on the queen’s head or wings.
Queen fainting may occur while handling her to mark her.
Suggested color scheme: white (years ending in 1 and 6), yellow (years ending 2 and 7), red (years ending in 3 and 8), green (years ending in 4 and 9) and blue (years ending in 5 and 0).
clipping portion of wing of queen; dead or injured queen
Anderson C. 2023 update. How to Mark a Queen Bee. Carolina HoneybeesCarolina Honeybees:
Carolina Honeybees. Accessed October 2022. https://carolinahoneybees.com/. Accessed 2023. https://carolinahoneybees.com/mark-your-queen-bee
Betterbee. n.d. Marking a Queen. Betterbee. Accessed 2023. https://www.betterbee.com/instructions-and-resources/marking-a-queen.asp
