[B]Queens to go[B]

[Kate Atchley]

Anyone got some whizzo tricks for transferring young (fast) queens + a few workers into travelling/Butler or whatever cages?



Kate

PS: As you see my attempts to embolden the heading don't work. Can't seem to fix it but hey ... Bs first and last!

[Jon]

You could use one of these queen catchers, sometimes known as a pluffer.

http://www.buzzybeeshop.co.uk/page13.html

You put the open end over the queen on the comb and when she starts to walk up the pipe you place the end against the entrance hole in the cage and she walks in.
I pick up workers one at a time by the wings and put them in the introduction cage back end first.

[Kate Atchley]

Thanks. Now I know what those pipes are called!

Used one for these last week and the queen resolutely refused to walk to the other end, whichever way I turned it! Ah well, practice will doubtless make perfect.

[The Drone Ranger]

Hi kate
I've been converted to using one after the crown of thorns meets queen thorax episode (early season marking)
When I put my hand round the tube it is darker than the bulb and that seems to get them up there on bright days

[Dark Bee]

[QUOTE=Kate Atchley;19352]Anyone got some whizzo tricks for transferring young (fast) queens + a few workers into travelling/Butler or whatever cages?

Whether you use a well aired matchbox or a more sophisticated modern piece of technology as instruments of imprisonment, always remember the fundamental principle; bees move upwards and not downwards. Bees will climb up into something but will not climb down into it. In other words if one wants a bee to go into a container, put the opening over the bee and slope the container upwards. Apologies if you are already aware of this, but it is often neglected at first attempts.
I prefer not to touch and get my scent on queens - purely a personal opinion but I believe it can lead to balling and rejection if done immediately before introduction or re introduction to a hive - especially the latter.

[Kate Atchley]

Very helpful. Thanks. The upwards movement is familiar though I may have forgotten it when I was trying this. It's a bit counter-intuitive if you're trying to fill something with a solid creature!
Creating a darker lower part of the tube should help a lot.
I'm not keen on handling the queens for the reason you mention, Dark Bee. Workers – that's okay – but I try to work queens without adding any scent to them.

[beejazz]

I use the queen catcher tube thingy, also managed to capture a few bees with it as well. I don't think I'll ever be confident in picking up queens with my fingers, they wriggle so, and I think i may squash or damage her. The catcher tube is a good piece of kit to have handy. Reminds me, i must wash it out.

[The Drone Ranger]

Hi beejazz
Do you find the queen will walk up the long tube OK
I wonder if its slippier when they are new and get easier once its a bits less shiny

[gavin]

Picking up by the wings is easy. One or two. Buying another bit of kit just means having something else to forget to take to the apiary.
I have my doubts about the worry about scent too. These days I'm usually in latex gloves, sometimes bare-handed, and I've never had a problem. Never crushed a queen either although I have let them go by mistake whilst scrabbling for a marker pen or clippers.

If you want her in a plunger or other cage it is easier to pick her up and move her over. Bees can be reluctant to walk off comb onto an unfamiliar surface, upwards or any other dirention.

It just takes a little practice and then you're sorted for life! Need to dispense with any glove thicker than a mm or so ...


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[fatshark]

You could use one of these queen catchers, sometimes known as a pluffer.

http://www.buzzybeeshop.co.uk/page13.html

I've always called these a beekeepers crack pipe ... I even ordered the first one from my local Thorne's agent using that name. Not, I hasten to add, the sign of a misspent youth ...

These certainly help picking up the queen unless she's scampered round to a patch of stores, when things can get very messy. I usually encourage her into the bulb and then quickly place my thumb over the open end. To encourage her into a cage you can then blow her (gently) down the tube.

beejazz ... other than honey I've never washed mine and have used it repeatedly in an afternoon catching and clipping many queens. Didn't seem to get any harder.