change of colour

[ianf]

Has anyone out there ever noticed buckfast queens change colour. A couple of months ago, my three buckfast queens were a light brown, now they are a dark brown. They are of various ages, from three years to one year. The hives are in two different places. my black bees are in a different place stay the same colour. Am i going through a retired persons moment, or should i go to specsavers. Ianf.

 

[Roola]

Has anyone out there ever noticed buckfast queens change colour. A couple of months ago, my three buckfast queens were a light brown, now they are a dark brown. They are of various ages, from three years to one year. The hives are in two different places. my black bees are in a different place stay the same colour. Am i going through a retired persons moment, or should i go to specsavers. Ianf.

Have they been on holiday at all?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Smoke stained? we all know how you Islay lot like things a bit smoky

 

[ianf]

You could be right, the hives are only 200mtrs from the distillery.

 

[busybee53]

Never had buckfast but... Had a lovely amber coloured queen I caught in a swarm. She was a prolific layer and large and very calm. Saw her most times and her lovely glowing amber colour darkened as she got older. Off spring nothing special to look at though.

 

[Scutellator]

It is normal. The same apply for the Italian queens as well. I cannot say for other light coloured be races.