Guilfordbeekeepers.org

I was marking queens today. First one went fine. Second one buzzing in marking tube. Marked her then she didn't move! I put her back in hive. Bees took her away. Will check Wednesday to see if she revived. Makes me wonder why I bother to mark I'm so upset.

I've done the same thing using a push tube. It happens. Hopefully, your queen will recover. Mine did not.

I like to have marked queens and have switched to picking the queen up by her 2 wings. I come from behind her to catch her and her wings. She goes still and her abdomen curls forward. I switch her to my left hand, holding her thorax while marking with my right hand. There are days (too many pots of coffee?) where I don't attempt it. You can practice on drones, but if you do, see if you can get a marker of a color NOT used on queens. Nothing is more distracting in a queen search than 30 or 40 thoraxes with this year's queen color.

I've been meaning to practice catching with fingers. Other things have always been on the hive inspection agenda. Will make a date for catching drones this week I'm still a bit jumpy trying to handle bees. Have to practice my deep breathing.
Great article in the News & Record.