How to Mark a Queen Bee (Step-by-Step Guide)

Why Mark Your Queen?

Queen marking isn't mandatory, but it makes hive management significantly easier. Here's why experienced beekeepers do it:

Benefits of Marking

1. Faster inspections. A bright dot on her thorax makes the queen far easier to spot among 50,000 similarly-colored bees.
2. Track her age. The color-coded system tells you exactly when she was born—important for knowing when she might need replacing.
3. Detect supersedure. If your marked queen disappears and you find an unmarked one, you know the colony replaced her.
4. Record keeping. Match queen marks to your hive records for better management decisions.
5. Reduce anxiety. Knowing where your queen is removes a major source of inspection stress.

Some beekeepers also clip one wing slightly (clipping) to slow swarming and make the queen easier to spot. We won't cover clipping here—marking alone provides most of the benefits with less risk.

The International Color System

Beekeepers worldwide use a standardized 5-year color rotation. The color tells you the year your queen was born (or at least marked).

Year Ending	Color	Recent Years
1 or 6	White	2021, 2026
2 or 7	Yellow	2022, 2027
3 or 8	Red	2023, 2028
4 or 9	Green	2024, 2029
5 or 0	Blue	2025, 2030

For 2025: Use BLUE. The mnemonic "Will You Raise Good Bees?" (White Yellow Red Green Blue) helps remember the order.

You don't have to follow this system—some beekeepers just use whatever color is handy. But using the standard makes your records meaningful to other beekeepers and helps if you ever sell nucs or queens.

What You'll Need

Marking Paint or Pens

You have two main options:

Queen Marking Pens

Paint pens specifically designed for marking queens. The Uni Posca pens are popular—non-toxic, fast-drying, and available in all the standard colors.

Pros: Easy to use, quick drying, minimal equipment

Cons: Can dry out between uses

See pens on Amazon →

Queen Marking Paint

Small bottles of paint applied with a matchstick, toothpick, or tiny brush. Often called "queen marking kit" or "bee marking paint."

Pros: Lasts longer in storage, very visible marks

Cons: Slower to dry, more awkward to apply

See paint kits on Amazon →

Queen Catching Tools (Optional but Recommended)

Queen Catcher Clip (Crown of Thorns)

A spring-loaded cage that gently traps the queen against the comb or your hand. The plastic tines hold her safely while you mark her thorax through the opening. About $5-10.

Marking Tube (Push-in Cage)

A clear tube with a foam plunger. You place the queen inside and gently push the plunger to hold her against the mesh screen. Mark her through the mesh. Very beginner-friendly.

Queen Muff (One-Handed Catcher)

A spring-loaded device you place over the queen on the comb. She walks up into a cage compartment. Good for catching without handling.

For beginners, we recommend a marking tube + paint pen combo. It's the safest, most controlled way to mark your first few queens.

Finding Your Queen

You can't mark what you can't find. Here are tips for locating her:

Queen-Finding Tips

✓ Look for the "royal court." The queen is usually surrounded by attendants facing her in a circle.
✓ Check frames with eggs first. She was there recently.
✓ Start in the brood nest. She rarely ventures far from where eggs are being laid.
✓ Look for her body shape. Longer abdomen than workers, pointed tip, legs often visible.
✓ Watch movement patterns. Queens move deliberately, not erratically like startled workers.
✓ Minimal smoke. Heavy smoke makes bees (and the queen) run and hide.

Tip: If you can't find her after checking all brood frames twice, stop. Close the hive and try again in a few days. Extended searching stresses the colony.

Catching Methods

Method 1: Queen Catcher Clip (Beginner-Friendly)

1

Locate the queen on the comb.

2

Open the spring-loaded catcher and position it over her.

3

Press down gently—the tines cage her against the comb surface.

4

Apply the mark through the opening while she's held in place.

5

Wait 30 seconds for paint to dry, then release.

Method 2: Marking Tube (Most Controlled)

1

Gently pick up the queen by her wings or thorax (never the abdomen).

2

Place her in the marking tube, mesh end up.

3

Gently push the foam plunger until her thorax presses against the mesh.

4

Apply a small dot of paint through the mesh onto her thorax.

5

Wait for paint to dry (30-60 seconds), release plunger, return queen to hive.

Method 3: Direct Handling (Advanced)

Experienced beekeepers often mark queens directly in hand without tools:

Pick up the queen by her wings with your dominant hand
Transfer her to your non-dominant hand, holding her legs between your fingers
Her thorax should be exposed, facing up
Apply mark with your dominant hand
Let dry, then release

This method is fast but takes practice. We recommend getting comfortable with tools before attempting direct handling.

The Marking Process

Where to Apply the Mark

Apply the mark to the center of the thorax—the middle section of the bee between the head and abdomen. This is where the wings attach.

✓ DO: Top center of thorax
✗ DON'T: Head (can blind her)
✗ DON'T: Wings (can damage flight)
✗ DON'T: Abdomen (can affect egg-laying)

Application Tips

Small dot: About 2mm diameter—just enough to see easily
Shake the pen: If using a paint pen, shake well before applying
Test first: Dab on your fingernail to ensure good paint flow
Quick touch: Don't press hard or drag—one quick dab
Wait to dry: Keep the queen contained for 30-60 seconds until paint is dry to the touch

After Marking

Once the paint is dry:

Return the queen to her frame. Place her gently on the brood comb where you found her.
Watch for acceptance. Workers may inspect her intensely but should not ball her. If they seem aggressive, she may have foreign scent on her.
Close the hive normally. No special precautions needed.
Update your records. Note the date, marking color, and hive number.
Check back in a week. Verify she's still laying and accepted.

Note: In rare cases, bees may reject a recently marked queen. This is uncommon with proper technique but can happen if too much paint was applied or she was handled roughly.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Too much paint

A big glob of paint can run into the wing joints, restricting movement. Use a small, clean dot.

Grabbing the abdomen

The abdomen contains vital reproductive organs. Always handle by the thorax or wings.

Not waiting for paint to dry

Wet paint can transfer to workers who may then ball the queen. Give it a full minute.

Marking a virgin queen

Virgins haven't mated yet and may still need to fly. Mark after you confirm she's laying.

Using random colors

If you're not following the system, at least be consistent in your own records.

Practice First: Mark Some Drones

Before marking your valuable queen, practice on drones. They're larger, more abundant, and expendable for learning purposes.

Catch a few drones from a frame (big eyes, stocky body, no stinger)
Practice your catching and handling technique
Apply marks to their thorax
Get comfortable with paint flow and drying time
Release back into the hive—they're fine with random paint colors

Once you can confidently mark drones, you're ready for the queen.

How to Mark a Queen Bee

Key Takeaways

In This Guide