Larry,
Very similar to my queen that was at a few months ago about early January.
Just out for no reason.  And nobody on the list here had an answer for me
then.
 
        Rich
 
On Wed, 22 Apr 1998, Larry Krengel wrote:
> I just had an interesting experience.  Last fall I requeened a few of my
> hives with Buckfast queens.  (I keep about a dozen hives.)  This spring
> they were all doing well.  This PM I was out checking the sugar water
> supply, and to my surprise I see one of my Buckfast ladies - large,
> dark, not looking like a virgin queen out for a flight - on the back of
> one of the hives.  No court, just her.  I was about to place her in a
> queen cage... not being sure what I was going to do with her then...
> when she took flight and after inspecting the entrance of one hive,
> entered another.  She was not challenged.  In fact, it appeared she was
> not even noticed.
>
> Except for a virgin queen or a swarm, I have never seen a queen outside
> the hive before.  I am not quite sure what to make of it.  Any thoughts?
>
> Larry Krengel
> Marengo, IL  USA
>