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Where Do You Find the Queen?

Published in Beekeeping 3 mins read

You are most likely to find the queen bee in the middle of the brood nest within the hive. However, a systematic search is crucial for a definitive sighting.

Searching for the Queen Bee: A Step-by-Step Guide

Finding the queen bee can be challenging but is essential for hive management. Here’s a recommended process:

  1. Gentle Smoke: Use a smoker to calm the bees before opening the hive. A few puffs of smoke across the top bars can help drive the bees down and reduce stinging.

  2. Start from the Side: Remove an outer frame to create space and allow you to maneuver the other frames more easily.

  3. Systematic Inspection: Carefully lift each frame, one at a time, starting from one side and working across the hive.

  4. Check for Brood: Pay close attention to frames containing brood (larvae and pupae). The queen is likely to be nearby, as she lays eggs in the brood cells.

  5. Look for the Queen's Appearance: The queen is typically larger than the other bees, with a longer abdomen and a smoother, shinier thorax. Her movements are often more deliberate. She may or may not be marked with a colored dot (depending on the beekeeper’s preference).

  6. Middle of the Brood Nest: After creating space by removing an outside frame, carefully slide the frames along. It's common to find the queen in the center of the brood nest.

  7. Patience is Key: Take your time and inspect each frame thoroughly. Avoid jerky movements that could startle the bees or injure the queen.

Why is the Queen in the Brood Nest?

The queen's primary role is to lay eggs. Therefore, she tends to stay near the brood nest, where she can easily access empty cells to lay her eggs. The worker bees also tend to the queen in this area, feeding and grooming her.

Tips for Finding a Marked Queen:

If the queen is marked, the search is much easier. Look for a small colored dot on her thorax. The color indicates the year she was introduced or hatched.

If You Can't Find the Queen:

  • Look for Eggs: If you cannot find the queen, check for freshly laid eggs. Finding eggs confirms that a queen is present and was recently active in the hive. A healthy laying pattern indicates a healthy queen.
  • Re-Check Later: If you still can't find the queen, close the hive and try again in a few days. The queen may have been hiding, or the bees may have been agitated.
  • Consider a Queenless Hive: If you consistently cannot find a queen or eggs, the hive may be queenless. In this case, consider requeening the hive.