On Wed, 31 May 1995, Gordon Scott wrote:
 
> Personally, I'm now convinced I should clip queens.  It appears  not  to
> hurt  them,  although they can't be too keen on being flightless, but in
> the UK at least swarms are IMHO definitely not a good idea.
>
> How to do it?  The best method I've seen so far is to catch her and hold
> her  with  her  head  towards  the  palm  on  the  ball  of  your thumb,
> restraining her with your first and second finger.   Cut  off  at  least
> half of at least one wing with a good fine pair of scissors.
>
> _Don't cut her legs!!!_
>
 
Watch out though!  do not cut the wing too short.  If you cut the wing
completely, what is a clipped queen for you is a crippled queen for its
bees. A crippled queen is superseded by the bees sooner or later.  I
talk by experience.
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