Скачать или смотреть What's that on the Queen?

How strange is this? Did you spot what was on the queen? Over a decade of collecting hundreds of swarms, I rarely encountered a marked queen. But occasionally, one does show up.
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Why mark a queen?Beekeepers mark their queens to track their age, using a colour-coded system based on the year they were born. For example:🔹 Blue = Years ending in 0 or 5⚪ White = 1 or 6💛 Yellow = 2 or 7🔴 Red = 3 or 8🟢 Green = 4 or 9
But here's the catch: not all beekeepers stick to the colour-coding system!
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Why do I mark my queens?It helps me determine if the hive has swarmed or if the queen has been replaced through supersedure.
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Does it make her easier to find?You'd think so-but honestly, I don't think it makes a huge difference! I still rely on spotting her larger abdomen, which often has a slightly different colour than her daughters, and her distinctive wobbly walk-wings slightly out, as if she's trying to keep her balance while scrambling over and under the other bees.
Have you ever found a marked queen in a swarm? Let me know! 🐝✨
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