Worldwide Beekeeping

Beekeeping => Beekeeping 101 => Topic started by: Zweefer on April 30, 2014, 11:40:08 pm

Title: Find the queen
Post by: Zweefer on April 30, 2014, 11:40:08 pm
blueblood's post got me to thinking. 
I think it would be a neat idea to have a thread where people would post photos of their frames with queens, so us new people could look at them and try to find them. and possible have either another thread or a second photo below with the answer.

Does this make any sense? 

as an example (thanks in advance tbone)...


(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs9.postimg.cc%2Fe4lm18w1n%2FDSCN1015.jpg&hash=bccbe7f9ae241f8c1b999de0e1b5f6706412fbfd) (http://postimg.cc/image/e4lm18w1n/)



then as an answer

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs14.postimg.cc%2Fmzvn3m2bh%2Fqueenans.jpg&hash=9d818c3c7717370e0790026d561c21aa5ad8232b) (http://postimg.cc/image/mzvn3m2bh/)


maybe a silly idea, but for those like me who are most concerned with finder her majesty, it may help?

Title: Re: Find the queen
Post by: LazyBkpr on May 01, 2014, 12:27:09 am
Not silly at all, and don't post the pic that shows where she is or I will... err, somebody will cheat and look there first!!!  Let them look, and if no one can find her give a hint. Makes great practice.  Only thing better would be short vid clips so you have to look while all the bees are moving.
Title: Re: Find the queen
Post by: Barbarian on May 01, 2014, 12:50:30 am
Usually I don't go looking for the Queen unless I need to find her. I look for eggs and young larvae then I know she's in there somewhere.

When looking for a Queen, I scan the edges of a frame first, then across the face of the frame.

I regret I will not be posting any pics of 'Queen on a frame'.  I find that whilst I turn for the camera she has done a 'Houdini' act.     ;D
Title: Re: Find the queen
Post by: Jen on May 01, 2014, 01:02:37 am
Here's one to start, shouldn't be to hard to find her ~

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs24.postimg.cc%2Fc3w2or0oh%2FDSCF9274.jpg&hash=1cf66da54b7e9a9a97797984e9df7aa4ff98ee10) (http://postimg.cc/image/c3w2or0oh/)
Title: Re: Find the queen
Post by: pistolpete on May 01, 2014, 02:09:48 am
I can't really help, 2 of my queens stand out like a sore thumb, and the third I haven't found in over a year. 
(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs28.postimg.cc%2F4n0jrg9ux%2Fqueen2.jpg&hash=1daa5658ae513dae59a7b6cc04d0d3c6e103634e) (http://postimg.cc/image/4n0jrg9ux/)
Title: Re: Find the queen
Post by: Bamabww on May 01, 2014, 04:42:18 am
I really need the practice. I almost never find the queen.
Title: Re: Find the queen
Post by: tbonekel on May 01, 2014, 07:11:25 am
Okay, here you go. This is a fun idea!

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs30.postimg.cc%2Fenhn03ff1%2FDSCN1028.jpg&hash=4a21412ebcfdfca9bbb4ea23c1cd439653f2a42f) (http://postimg.cc/image/enhn03ff1/)
(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs14.postimg.cc%2F56w5lkt0d%2FDSCN1005.jpg&hash=64fc882756db350e959f128b0fab9aad7a711ba9) (http://postimg.cc/image/56w5lkt0d/)
Title: Re: Find the queen
Post by: Jen on May 01, 2014, 11:42:47 am
Good ones tbone- so evident how she's trying to hide.
Title: Re: Find the queen
Post by: robo on May 01, 2014, 11:53:33 am
Here are some more for you.

http://www.worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/index.php/topic,344.msg3239.html#msg3239
Title: Re: Find the queen
Post by: Jen on May 01, 2014, 12:17:05 pm

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs16.postimg.cc%2Fidruiivzl%2FDSCF9229.jpg&hash=8ecf7d624d19253951f87ce55716999988ed25a8) (http://postimg.cc/image/idruiivzl/)
Title: Re: Find the queen
Post by: Perry on May 01, 2014, 12:36:06 pm

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs21.postimg.cc%2Fe5kkfjy9f%2Fqueenbee.jpg&hash=da30530c9ce2498bd8e26834aa2c51276646f7a8) (http://postimg.cc/image/e5kkfjy9f/)
Title: Re: Find the queen
Post by: Beeboy on May 01, 2014, 02:02:54 pm

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs16.postimg.cc%2Fidruiivzl%2FDSCF9229.jpg&hash=8ecf7d624d19253951f87ce55716999988ed25a8) (http://postimg.cc/image/idruiivzl/)
There's a couple of good looking prospects there, but I cannot be sure if I am seeing the queen or not in this one.
Title: Re: Find the queen
Post by: Jen on May 01, 2014, 02:07:43 pm
Hi threadkilla, this one is tricky. The hint would be that she is in the process of laying an egg  :)
Title: Re: Find the queen
Post by: Beeboy on May 01, 2014, 02:17:45 pm
Ugh! I keep trying to move my mouse up so that I can't get more sunlight on the frame...just so you know it don't work, so save yourself the time & don't try it.

I found her...thanks for the hint.
Title: Re: Find the queen
Post by: Jen on May 01, 2014, 02:22:07 pm
Yay! I remember taking this pic, then putting her back into the hive. Then when I tried to find her on the pic, it took awhile cause half of her abdomen isn't there!
Title: Re: Find the queen
Post by: riverbee on May 01, 2014, 05:08:21 pm
zweefer, this is an awesome thread you started! ;)

i have to post up an easy one or two for the beeks who haven't seen a retinue.....

sometimes the bees help you out and just flat out point her out to ya............ :D

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs29.postimg.cc%2Fir60n85g3%2FIMG_2769.jpg&hash=604869ff129c4416918270fe4dcd1d370a86fb3f) (http://postimg.cc/image/ir60n85g3/)

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs29.postimg.cc%2F67fhd86mr%2Fqueen_3.jpg&hash=461e244f9d6d69df20e4634a9e2c99fce2d3e521) (http://postimg.cc/image/67fhd86mr/)

my queens are never marked and these dark ones are hard to find sometimes.
Title: Re: Find the queen
Post by: iddee on May 01, 2014, 05:17:09 pm
Jen, are you sure you even see her. The queen is barely outside the shadow, in the sunlight, and all her abdomen is there.  :o
Title: Re: Find the queen
Post by: Jen on May 01, 2014, 05:34:27 pm
Hi Iddee, here is a close up of that same pic, see how her abdomen is sunk into the cell? So Yes it's there but not all of it is showing


(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs10.postimg.cc%2Ffg3lwwjj9%2FDSCF9229.jpg&hash=1ec58ff1db92ca6bd2c40fd3f74c656ead996938) (http://postimg.cc/image/fg3lwwjj9/)
Title: Re: Find the queen
Post by: iddee on May 01, 2014, 09:42:20 pm
OK. I was just wondering if you were looking at the bee in the bottom left corner with the abdomen nearly fully sunk into the cell.
Title: Re: Find the queen
Post by: Bakersdozen on May 02, 2014, 03:09:32 am
A beekeeping version of Where's Waldo!  Great!
Title: Re: Find the queen
Post by: jb63 on May 02, 2014, 11:19:13 am
(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi847.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab31%2Fjcb63%2Fbees%2Fth_thoQueensonaframe009.jpg&hash=5144ca24197b0c29422326c806f16c89cdf6b8e4) (http://s847.photobucket.com/user/jcb63/media/bees/thoQueensonaframe009.jpg.html)
Good thread Zweefer. :)
Title: Re: Find the queen
Post by: Zweefer on May 02, 2014, 12:37:01 pm
Thanks!  so far I'm feeling pretty good given the photos submitted... now if only I can train my bees to be completely still when I inspect  :laugh:

seriously, I hope it is helping others gain confidence like me.  :)
Title: Re: Find the queen
Post by: Jen on May 02, 2014, 12:52:19 pm
It might help also, to watch for different movement. Queen will move a little slower like searching for a place to lay, sort of like a semi truck moving amongst a hole bunch of volks wagon bugs. And if I see her on the floor of the hive, she might be actually running for shelter.
Title: Re: Find the queen
Post by: G3farms on May 02, 2014, 03:08:41 pm
Nice one JB, I had to take a second look............tricky devil you!  :laugh:

Nice one JB, I had to take a second look............tricky devil you!  :laugh:
Title: Re: Find the queen
Post by: Jen on May 02, 2014, 03:13:04 pm
Me Too! I saw that thorax over to the left, and then I saw Her!  Good One
Title: Re: Find the queen
Post by: jb63 on May 02, 2014, 09:58:43 pm
Call it a daily double G.
Title: Re: Find the queen
Post by: pistolpete on May 02, 2014, 10:14:11 pm
As long as we're on the subject of finding queens:  Mine are almost always where there is work to be done: on frames with recently vacated cells.  When I am looking for the queen I really don't pay much attention to frames that are all capped brood, or all capped honey.  The frames to look for are the one's that have just a few capped cells remaining.    Of course, some queens run and hide, but most of mine just keep working, even on a pulled frame.
Title: Re: Find the queen
Post by: LazyBkpr on May 03, 2014, 08:23:44 pm

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs9.postimg.cc%2Ftvaete3vf%2FDSCF0385.jpg&hash=e6c17b22ba938e00b324c1b97f25f083e08760a2) (http://postimg.cc/image/tvaete3vf/)

   Sorry about the angle.. I was looking for the queen the wife was taking pictures...... 
Title: Re: Find the queen
Post by: tbonekel on May 04, 2014, 01:59:35 pm
You raised the bar there lazy. I don't see her.
Title: Re: Find the queen
Post by: Jen on May 04, 2014, 02:04:42 pm
It would be nice is the pic was more clear  :)
Title: Re: Find the queen
Post by: Perry on May 04, 2014, 03:20:52 pm
C'mon folks, she there as plain as can see. She's settin off over on that culvert in the pond, catchin a few rays, getting ready to head off for her mating flight.  ;D
Title: Re: Find the queen
Post by: G3farms on May 04, 2014, 04:06:37 pm
Pretty white wax fresh on some wax foundation.


(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs7.postimg.cc%2F9gew94313%2FIMG_0601.jpg&hash=cf91b9475e778268b5d951c064026ea893ac4ef2) (http://postimg.cc/image/9gew94313/)

PIC 1
Title: Re: Find the queen
Post by: G3farms on May 04, 2014, 04:19:32 pm
(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs14.postimg.cc%2F9nqcpqfu5%2FIMG_0599.jpg&hash=3dc9ef4337ab84785e6e5aef85d0849a85e39bcc) (http://postimg.cc/image/9nqcpqfu5/)

Pic 2
Title: Re: Find the queen
Post by: G3farms on May 04, 2014, 04:24:03 pm
(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs23.postimg.cc%2F6zznrwc47%2FIMG_0597.jpg&hash=303a03e614193d3f0c42b108efb4724013fd96e3) (http://postimg.cc/image/6zznrwc47/)

PIC 3
She is hiding!

Hint..........she ain't the marked one either  :laugh:  practicing marking on some drones.
Title: Re: Find the queen
Post by: Jen on May 04, 2014, 04:41:27 pm
Wheeo, these last three are a challenge, still working on it and can't zoom, so a good test here.
Title: Re: Find the queen
Post by: LazyBkpr on May 04, 2014, 04:48:48 pm

  In my pic look at the top bar of that frame.   She is the closest bee to the camera   ;D   Not the best pic I freely admit.
Title: Re: Find the queen
Post by: Jen on May 04, 2014, 05:00:17 pm
Scott- I think she appears more slender and three long legs are showing?
Title: Re: Find the queen
Post by: Zweefer on May 04, 2014, 10:20:52 pm
good ones G!
still looking on #3...
Title: Re: Find the queen
Post by: Jen on May 04, 2014, 10:50:46 pm
Me Too Zweef, I have a couple of prospects on #3, one is a large thorax, but can't make out the rest of the body. I even have my magnifying glass up  :D

I'm still working on both of them

UPDATE- think I found her on G's #2 pic
Title: Re: Find the queen
Post by: G3farms on May 05, 2014, 05:56:14 am
Pic 1.........bottom left corner.
Pic 2.........bottom right, find the small hole they chewed in the bottom of the foundation, just above and to the left.
Pic 3..........to the right side in the middle, she is laying an egg. You can see her shiny thorax and wings, a drone is to her left.

Jen are you left clicking on the thumb nails? it will blow the pic up to original size and then you can even zoom in more.
Title: Re: Find the queen
Post by: Jen on May 05, 2014, 12:55:51 pm
Good excercise here! Let's do more of this kind of stuff  :)
Title: Re: Find the queen
Post by: jb63 on May 19, 2014, 11:46:12 pm

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs16.postimg.cc%2Fy6b66sjht%2FSwarm_queens_001.jpg&hash=dc49ec6fede17634591d5c4c126834ad52b00b2a) (http://postimg.cc/image/y6b66sjht/)

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs16.postimg.cc%2F4fo1l0yi9%2FSwarm_queens_006.jpg&hash=8709023e6d7a6aa2cc0d28a51997249984268c80) (http://postimg.cc/image/4fo1l0yi9/)
These are swarm cell queens I made into nucs. :)
Title: Re: Find the queen
Post by: CpnObvious on May 20, 2014, 12:02:16 am
I never did like Waldo! Well, my CDO always forced me to find him.  I'm sure that'll come into play soon-enough!  I do think I really like the idea of marked queens, though.

Awesome thread!  I wish I had seen this earlier!
Title: Re: Find the queen
Post by: Jen on May 20, 2014, 12:06:35 am
Cp- it took me a long time to spot queens. Now, I can find them about 90% of the time. Be patient and keep searching.
Title: Re: Find the queen
Post by: G3farms on May 20, 2014, 12:23:23 am
Those are a couple of nice fatties.

I had marked all of the queens in the nucs I was selling thinking that the new keeps could find them easier. In one nuc there was four of us looking for a big green dot on her back and still had took three times through five frames. She kept hiding under bees.
Title: Re: Find the queen
Post by: pistolpete on July 12, 2014, 04:28:27 pm
here are a couple of my best queen.  She's two years old and currently heading up a Nuc.   The last picture does not have a queen, just a really nice brood frame for this time of year.
(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs30.postimg.cc%2Fetsjj91d9%2FDSC_0007.jpg&hash=bb42dd04a4747b0ffdc9460b02d8d799db648735) (http://postimg.cc/image/etsjj91d9/)

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs30.postimg.cc%2F4842ti5nx%2FDSC_0008.jpg&hash=9300e60b45f02afbcf00551352967d9bbd3d8a8c) (http://postimg.cc/image/4842ti5nx/)

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs30.postimg.cc%2Fd4euxfwa5%2FDSC_0010.jpg&hash=d59cd3ac7d45bc7cf3677e6688d6f09d1cefb711) (http://postimg.cc/image/d4euxfwa5/)

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs30.postimg.cc%2Fhg3gmg371%2FDSC_0012.jpg&hash=4c982effb91e13109693ff77fd072e4f3d542415) (http://postimg.cc/image/hg3gmg371/)

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs30.postimg.cc%2Fasbgdl92l%2FDSC_0014.jpg&hash=64efb1d3b0d6a6e83f24190d5b21fe8829ef59d2) (http://postimg.cc/image/asbgdl92l/)
Title: Re: Find the queen
Post by: Jen on July 12, 2014, 04:41:48 pm
NICE! the frames of brood and honey is something for the queen and beek to be proud of. Beautiful queen!
Title: Re: Find the queen
Post by: tbonekel on July 12, 2014, 07:05:36 pm
Okay, so I'm guessing you make the bees wipe their feet before coming into the hive? That is some really light cappings on the brood and honey.
Title: Re: Find the queen
Post by: riverbee on July 12, 2014, 07:23:37 pm
great photos pete!  thank you!  that queen, she sure is pretty, and not to mention nice and plump!  very dark, where do you get your queens, or did you graft/other method/let the bees raise?  awesome pattern and nice white wax.  how do you like the plastic frames? (not the foundation).

thanks for sharing these photos!
Title: Re: Find the queen
Post by: pistolpete on July 12, 2014, 08:39:24 pm
This queen was purchased from John Gates Apiaries.  I used her eggs to raise a few queens this spring, using the OTS method.  I like the plastic frames, always true and square, no assembly required, don't blow up in the extractor.  You just have to be more gentle with the ears than the wood ones.  this year I started painting the foundation with wax and it has made a tremendous difference.

The was is so white because those caps are less than a week old, also because it's a Nuc in a 10 frame deep, there is no traffic to the second box.
Title: Re: Find the queen
Post by: lazy shooter on July 22, 2014, 07:59:39 am
Pistolpete:

That's a  nice looking dark queen.  I continue to be amazed at the different coloring of queens. 
Title: Re: Find the queen
Post by: Papakeith on July 22, 2014, 09:56:05 am

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs16.postimg.cc%2Fidruiivzl%2FDSCF9229.jpg&hash=8ecf7d624d19253951f87ce55716999988ed25a8) (http://postimg.cc/image/idruiivzl/)

found her. very tricky
Title: Re: Find the queen
Post by: LazyBkpr on July 22, 2014, 10:11:37 am
 ;D