Hi All
 
I am studying how to find the queen if the usual procedure fails. One of the
ideas I have come across, involves shaking or brushing the bees from the
combs, and subsequently placing these combs above a queen excluder. The bees
will move up to the brood on the combs, but the queen will be unable to do
so because of the excluder.
 
I am wondering if using BENZALDEHYDE would work as it does with clearing
supers, or would it be too severe on the nurse bees and the queen. If it
works, it may save a lot of hassle with the bees.
 
If it does not work, is there any other system of clearing the bees except
shaking or brushing?.
 
Whilst on the subject of finding the queen, I came across an idea which I
put out for comment. It is as follows:
 
'When you kill a queen, stick a pin through the body, and store under
refrigeration. Then when you wish to find the queen, stick the body on to a
frame in the hive, and shortly afterwards you will find the queen stinging
what she believes to be a rival.'
 
Is this a leg pull or is there something to it?
 
Thanks for input as always.
 
Sincerely
Tom Barrett
49 South Park
Foxrock
Dublin 18
Ireland
 
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Tel + 353 1 289 5269
Fax + 353 1 289 9940
 
Latitude  53 Deg 16' 12.8" North
Longitude 06 Deg  9' 44.9" West
3 miles - 5 km from the Irish Sea
 
Mild winters - cool to moderately warm summers.
Being Ireland, it rains a lot!