[log in to unmask] wrote:
>
> Yes this is the most difficult part, making sure you don't take the donor
> colony's queen by mistake!  I usually look for her, and once found, set her
> comb in a nuc box until I am done taking the brood and bees I want for a
> split.
>
> This is, admittedly, time-consuming and tricky.  Eventually you get to the
> point where you are just looking at the combs you pull to ascertain the
> ABSENCE of the queen on them. A quick double check and you can be fairly
> certain you don't accidently take her away.
>
> I wish there were some way to "mark" the queen so that you could find her
> location in the hive quickly with a sensing device.  Oh well, maybe
> someday. Radioactive tagging or something!  :-)                Later...
> JWG
 
Dear JWG:
Some time ago I read an article (National Geographic perhaps?) about bar
coding for honeybees. Maybe some of the other beekeeper recipients can
remember the source.
I never have had trouble locating queens in my hives (eve when numerous)
by simply using the 'national color code" for marking queens. 1996 and
92 were especially good because the color was white making the queen
readily visible. But any of the colors used for the code are sharp
enough to spot the queen rapidly.
Why try expensive measures when we have effective and economic ones on
hand. Besides, the majority of us "poor" honeybee lovers can not afford
such expensive technology, I think!
Regards.
P. Rodriguez
Virginia Beach, VA (USA)
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