Hi from Serfrica ('scuse the eksent)
 
> Hi from Houston!
> Such a warm day yesterday (75) I thought I'd have a look at the bees.  In
> one of my hives my queen has her paint spot nearly rubbed off.  How does
> one safely remark them?  And what kind of paint can you use?
 
After the thread on excessive cruelty to queens I am almost scared
to reply :-)  In SA there is a correcting fluid called Tippex, which
comes in a small range of pastel colours.  It is packaged in a small
bottle with a brush in the lid (like nail varnish).  We find it very
convenient for field-marking queens.
 
I am sure that it must be possible to introduce powder pigments into
white correcting fluid in the event that you need a wider range of
colours, but I have not yet needed to try this.
 
We use a transparent plastic cylinder (roughly 2 cm diameter) with a
soft net closure at one end.  A piston is made from a piece of
sponge and a dowel.  The open end of the cylinder is gently placed
over the queen.  When she runs up the cylinder, the piston is
inserted, and she is _gently_ held against the net.  This makes
marking quick and accurate (you don't inadvertently blind her).  The
solvent seems to evaporate quickly enough for these markings not to
_seem_ to interfere with her behaviour or relationship with the
colony.  From the relative permanence of these markings I infer that
they neither disturb her nor her attendants.  I have certainly never
observed Tippex markings to cause trouble.
 
The cost, easy availability of both Tippex and the solvent, and its
convenience makes this a very useful option for us.
 
I hope this helps
Paul
 
Paul Magnuson                             [log in to unmask]
Honeybee Research Unit                    Plant Protection Res. Inst.
Agricultural Research Council.            Private Bag X134
Tel. (012) 319 7113, Fax (012) 323 5275   Pretoria 0001 South Africa