How to mark the queen bee correctly: what is it for and how to do it

The queen is an important member of the bee swarm. To make it easier to identify it among other insects, experienced beekeepers use tags. Several devices and techniques are available for such a delicate procedure. How to correctly mark the queen bee in order to perform the procedure quickly and not harm the insect? It is enough to consider all the options for the procedure, having studied the features of each.

What is it for?

Queen marking is used for several reasons.

Facilitates the daily work of the beekeeper. Despite the large parameters of the female, sometimes it is difficult to find her among thousands of songs even for a professional.
The age of the insect. Thanks to a special marking system, beekeepers learn the age of the queens. This parameter is important, because the fertility of the female, the number of new offspring depends on it. The work needs 5 colors corresponding to the international system. They help to estimate the age of the insect by years:

white - 2022;
blue - 2022-2023;
green - 2022-2023;
red - 2022-2023;
yellow - 2022-2023 (2022 will be the same color).

To determine the owner of the queen if she flies away with the swarm. All beekeepers working in the same area agree in advance on the color or type of tags used.
In order to bind the uterus to the hive - suddenly she gets lost in the process of "walking".
To account for all the females in the apiary, to replace them in a timely manner and to monitor the natural change.

Methods of marking queen bees

Depending on the preferences of the beekeeper, his agreement with partners and goals, work is done in several ways.

Attaching labels

There are special colored stickers for the 5-year insect identification cycle. For breeders, there are options with numbers - from 1 to 100. For gluing, a special compound sold in a kit or medical glue is used.

It is necessary to apply a drop of liquid on the back of the uterus between the wings, quickly stick the mark, holding it with your finger for 3-5 seconds (so that the glue grabs). After the individual is placed for 10-15 minutes in a separate cage, so that the composition is completely dry and the sticker does not fall off.

Paints

The main indicator of the next device is the correct consistency. If the paint is too thick, you will have to dilute it with ordinary acetone, otherwise the composition will curl up after application. It is better to add the diluent in droplets so as not to overdo it. For application, a thin brush is used - one for each color.

Fact! You can replace the brush with a toothpick, a match or a thin twig - whatever is at hand. Putting a mark is allowed only on the back, otherwise the female will not survive. It is better to practice before the procedure.

Special markers

An alternative to paints and stickers, besides, even beginners can handle markers. They do not contain toxic components, so they will not harm the uterus. The composition of the device is resistant enough to last for several months, despite external factors: sunlight, water, mechanical stress.All markers are colored, but in addition to the basic 5 colors, other shades can be purchased to create your own insect classification system.

Wing clipping

According to most modern beekeepers, a barbaric method. It is used only by experienced professionals. The reason is a high risk of harming individuals. To make a mark, you need to carefully cut off the right or left wing of the uterus. This helps to orient with the age of the female: in the first year, one wing is removed, in the second - the other. On the third, according to the rules, the female must be changed.

Carrying out the procedure

In order to correctly mark an insect, it is important to follow the appropriate sequence of actions.

First, you need to find an individual, remove it from the combs and place it in a place free from bees.
Move from the right hand to the left so that the body of the insect is sandwiched between the index finger and thumb. It is important not to press too hard or touch the abdomen.
Make a mark on the back, trying not to exceed 3 mm.
Be sure to release the individual into a separate cage, where it will move away from the shock, and the used composition will dry completely.

Safety precautions

In order not to damage such a valuable element of the swarm, it is recommended to apply a mark during the period when the female leaves the queen cell. This is the time when she is relaxed, and will not break out much. For convenience, a special ring or cap is used, where the insect is placed and fixed in a stationary state.

Another option is a tube that looks like a syringe. Inside is the uterus. A fine mesh is installed on one side of it, and a foam rubber piston on the other, holding the female motionless.

To perform the procedure yourself, it is desirable to have certain skills in handling the uterus. It is better to practice on worker bees in advance or mark a few hornets.