Regards the notion that paint can harm or effect queens acceptance. I have not personally observed any ill effect in thousands of marked queens over decades. I tried water based acrylic and found it was less durable than oil enamel for me. Could be drying time? Regards marking virgins I have no direct experience but while taking Sue Cobey's class years ago she said that she would sometimes carefully uncap 14 day cells, mark the virgin and replace her and recap the cell before transferring to the mating nuc. My take away is that queens and virgins are pretty tolerant and durable and that marking is not an important limiting factor of queen acceptance or longevity.
Paul Hosticka
Dayton WA
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