Marking and Clipping Queens

Paul Kelly, research and apiary manager, explains best practices to clip and mark queen bees.

For more videos, check out the University of Guelph's Honey Bee Research Centre youtube channel at this link:

For more work by David Borish Visuals, check out:

We would like to thank Québec beekeepers Marie-Hélène Majeau and Susan Kennerknecht for translating our videos into French. We are very grateful for their help with this project. (To view translation, click on settings then subtitles)

Nous aimerions remercier deux apicultrices du Québec, Marie-Hélène Majeau et Susan Kennerknecht pour la traduction de ces vidéos en français. Nous leur en sommes très reconnaissants. (Pour accéder à la traduction française, sélectionnez paramètres et ensuite sous-titres)

[FrederickDunn]

I get so many questions regarding how to clip wings and mark queens. When the ground is so well covered here, I'd rather share your video than make my own. I really appreciate your channel and fantastic information. Excellent, and I thank you for sharing what you are doing and how you're doing it. I'll be sharing this link! :)

[chadboling]

What is the color code and what colors for what years?

[climb]

Thank you wery much for your great video. You clip half of the wing..only one? And... wouldnt the bees see this queen as "damaged" and replace...kill her? Thank you!

[Rubie_the_Black_Widow_Subie]

This is the first I've heard of clipping queen wings. What is the purpose of reason behind it? Is it to prevent absconding?

[lindadarwisy]

Why do we need to clip the wing?? They need to have mating flight right?

[Jknudsen]

Handling queens makes me so nervous. Handling her the way you do, is there any risk at all of breaking her legs?

[carldaniels]

sir, when you clip the wing of the queen, will her attendants recognize that something is wrong with her and begin to produce a superceder cell?

[zotto]

Do the queen bee’s wings ever grow back?

[eriklizandro]

Mr Kelly, do you clip top and bottom wing?

[framcesmoore]

Ha Mr Kelly I live in virginia I would like to get some buckfast bees, can u take a queen and put her in a itatian hive. I asked u this before but I can not find if u answered my question thanks and have a great day like always the videos are great

[lindatson]

Why do they clip the queen bee, s wing

[kennethhatmaker]

Why do you clip the queen that you install

[eroorefulufoo]

why do beekeepers use different colours for different years?

[incubatork]

What happens if the queen is not fully mated and needs a topup?, i have heard of queens doing multiple mating flights, clipping would make this imposible.

[akivazohar]

I have a question on clipping
At a future point the hive will swarm and this older queen that we just clipped would expect to lead the swarm how can she do this with a clipped wings?

[timothyorourke]

id you put a slight cut in the adbomen by accident will it do harm ?

[justgotravels]

Where r u guys located?
And any tips to find the queen during a removal

[albertalbert]

How many years can a queen survive after cutting off her wings?

[guybonneau]

It seems you are using a medical scissor type. Can you provide a detailed description or a link to the scissors you use. That would be helpful since hundreds exist: suture, bandage, surgical, ...

[observationbeehives]

I for one favor allowing beekept bees to mate with wild (forest) bees as much as possible, since wild bees are healthier.