Queen catchers and cages

[Jen]

I'm going to be doing a split soon. I noticed in the video from Jpthebeeman while catching a swarm in the tire, that he used this handy plastic clip to nab the queen.

How do you catch the queen when you need to?

[Perry]

I use the exact same clip, they are great. Always have more than one handy in case you accidentally step on one.  Fortunately it was empty.
If I don't have one I will pick her up with my fingers if I really need to.

[tecumseh]

although old my fingers are still quick and nimble.... why invent some tool when you fingers work better?

[iddee]

Why would you want to catch her to make a split. Just move the frame she is on. If you don't want that frame to go with her, just guide her off it into the box you want her in and return the frame. I have never caught a queen to make a split.

[robo]

although old my fingers are still quick and nimble.... why invent some tool when you fingers work better?

 

Not to get on a soapbox,  but just because someone makes a tool for something doesn't mean it is needed or makes things more efficient.    Are you more proficient using  tongs to pick a piece of candy out of a dish,  or your fingers?

Personally I find the clips more dangerous to the health of the queen than my fingers.   If the queen suddenly moves, you can catch her with one of the sides or even get her in the jaws as it closes.   With my fingers, if I miss,  there is no harm done, I just go for it again.

For someone like yourself that is comfortable handling bees for BVT,  picking up a queen by hand should come quite natural.

With all that said, obviously if someone does not have good dexterity the catchers are the next best option.    Do what you feel comfortable with,  but does realize that just because you are comfortable with it does not mean it is the most efficient or least dangerous for the queen.     And always remember you can practice picking up drones until you become comfortable.

The other thing I don't like about the catchers is what do you do with her once she is caught?   Ever try to move her from the catcher into a queen cage?   When I have a need to catch a queen,  I want to keep her separated for a period of time.  By hand I can easily put her into a queen cage.

[tefer2]

Hand catching drones and queens will become second nature for you soon Jen.
May as well get comfortable handling them without that plastic bee smasher.
By the way, their just a bunch of bugs. 

[barry42001]

assuming you're capturing her for a split, or to start up a nuc, that doesn't matter whether it's a cage or whether it's this clip, the same things accomplished that allows for interaction between the Queen and the workers provides for them to feed and somewhat groom her. I tend to have a heavy hand in what I do, so for me the Queen catcher works.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk

[robo]

Hand catching drones and queens will become second nature for you soon Jen.
May as well get comfortable handling them without that plastic bee smasher.

Might as well be prepared for the day you forgot the catcher

[riverbee]

robo~
"When I have a need to catch a queen,  I want to keep her separated for a period of time.  By hand I can easily put her into a queen cage."

this is what i do jen. i keep a couple of cages around, and the jz beez cages work nicely to put a queen in to keep her safe.

[Leather Jim]

Jen, check out this link. 

[robo]

 

Never squeeze her by the abdomen.

[Jen]

Great Stuff Here! It would be an honor to hold my queen for a little while ~

Tef-    They're not just bugs to me.. I think of them as more than ants... and the pesky fly 

Thanks for the video's... mezmerizing

And thanks for the encouragment to use my gentle hands. Just don't want to harm her.

I knew this would be a great thread!

[Perry]

Great videos. I may some day give this a try. I pick up worker bees by the wings all the time. I guess I worry about damaging wings or legs and having the bees replace her.

[Jen]

That's my worry as well Perry. There are thousands of workers... but just ONE Queen.

[Leather Jim]

Well I'll be darned. Robo, I never put it together that you were bush kill farms. I have one of your vacs, best thing since sliced bread.

[Perry]

Well I'll be darned. Robo, I never put it together that you were bush kill farms. I have one of your vacs, best thing since sliced bread.

Never underestimate the celebrity factor! 

[BoilerJim]

Anyone ever get stung by the queen? I guess my fear is that while I am grabbing the queen some of the grooming workers won't take kindly to my fingers and "lite me up" so to speak. Don't get me wrong, I get nailed a couple times a week but I still try and avoid a few. 

PS: The queen can sting more than once unlike worker bees, right? Also, does not die after stinging either, right? Is that how she kills the other queens that have not hatched from their cells?

[Riverrat]

PS: The queen can sting more than once unlike worker bees, right? Also, does not die after stinging either, right? Is that how she kills the other queens that have not hatched from their cells?

The queen does not have a barb on her stinger so she can sting multiple times and not die. Although she will rarely sting you.
And yes she will sting other queens in the cell to kill them.

[robo]

Anyone ever get stung by the queen?

I have handled 100's of queens and never been stung.   Let me clarify that,  I have handled 100's of honeybee queens and never been stung.  Bumblebee queens are a totally different story, and boy do the pack a punch :'(

I have actually seen queens "pass out" and thought she had died,  only to come back to life in a few minutes.  The first time that happens your heart stops for a few beats

[robo]

Well I'll be darned. Robo, I never put it together that you were bush kill farms. I have one of your vacs, best thing since sliced bread.

Glad you like your vac.   I'm running a few contests for vac owners this summer, so keep your eye open for an email with the details an potentially win yourself some buck$.