I just love those queens! I pulled a nuc from one of my hives, then bought a queen from our local queen breeder. I decide to mark my new queen then put her back into her wooden cage before introduction. Too windy outside so I'm in the kitchen. I have my own technique of holding the queen in my soft fist and wait patiently for her to poke her pretty head out between the base of my index finger and thumb, then I mark her. So! She pokes her head out, I get a perfect pink dot on her beautiful thorax… she pushes out of my hand and flies straight up to the ceiling and then dive bombs straight down into the kitchen sink drain !!!!!! I Am Frozen.. Unblinking.. Staring At The Drain.. Can't Move Can’t Breath. Husband wanders into the kitchen and I lunge at him arms straight out, “DON’T MOVE!” After the longest minute of my entire life, slowly but surely two tiny roving antennae's appear up through the metal part of the drain. I exhale. Slowly she walks her way onto the white sink floor and pauses for a little rest. My right arm takes on a mind of its own and with lightning speed I snatch her up ever so gently before she decides to take flight again. I get her back into her wooden queen cage and reset the cork plug. I watch her for a few seconds to make sure her legs are okay. All is well. Pink dot still perfect! Whew!
