What city do you live in that has banned beekeeping?
I'm in Gilroy CA, and we got such a law in 1995.
It was brought on by a guy who had chickens running loose, roosting on
cars, crowing at 3 A.M., getting in traffic and creating a general
nuisance.  The city fathers passed a blanket law listing specific livestock
and honey bees.
The local bee association (at http://www.hotcity.com/~bees) is researching
the background of the law in preparation to try to get it changed.
One thing we are doing is collecting examples of reasonable beekeeping
ordinances to present as evidence.  Obviously, we'll steer clear of your
city's ordinance!
Michael
 
At 03:26 AM 1/16/98 -0600, you wrote:
>Reply-to:      Discussion of Bee Biology <[log in to unmask]>
>From:          wd6esz <[log in to unmask]>
>
>Kathy, Thanks for your suggested explanations.  Yes, she was marked. When I
>said "unusual color", I was referring to the MARK that made me notice her
>coming in for a landing.  And I ruled out that she was a new marked queen
>because there were no other queens in the hive. And if it was a mating
>flight, it seems she wouldn't be very successsful this time of year because
>I'm in an urban area where beekeeping is illegal.
>
>Rich
>
>
Michael