The BeeHolder, July 2010

Why has this worker bee been marked?

One of my colonies, over a period of two to three weeks changed character dramatically. I was used to strolling amongst the hives without any armour just to see what they were taking in and to have a chat with them. I didn't bother them and they didn't bother me; a lovely amicable existence.

Gradually they became a little more aggressive until they were going for anyone who got within 25m of the apiary. There would be 20 to 50 of them all round my head screaming at my veil and stinging my gloves. It was impossible to source them as these nasties followed you down the row of hives such that every colony appeared to be the same. Although I had a rough idea which hive it was I was wary of taking the ultimate step in case I got it wrong.

I mark my queens so why not mark the workers? That evening I got an aerosol of fluorescent red paint from the workshop and after giving it good shake donned my armour again and waded into the fray. I waited until I had got a large crowd of bees going round and round and really going for me then stepped briskly back and sprayed a cloud of red paint into the air.

Next morning I opened the suspect hive and lo and behold, there was my evidence. The queen was promptly dispatched to the hive in the sky and a nucleus placed alongside for uniting the next day.

A great relief and hopefully it will be a happy ending.

Deryck Johnson courtesy Essex BeeKeepers and EBees July 2010