Is this a queen

[Beelosser]

Bottom right. I think many newbies like me would like this type of advice. I know there is a queen in the hive, eggs and larvae but this year is a new unmarked queen. I have not seen her so far and am not good at finding them.

 

[Boston Bees]

At least when it comes to mated queens I generally find that if you have to ask "is this a queen?", it isn't.

Not sure which photo you mean the bottom right of, but I can't personally see a queen in these on my brief glance over them.

 

[Beelosser]

I know what you mean. It’s one of those things when it is right it is obvious. I thought I had only attached one photo (the last one). Not sure why I am bothered

 

[Boston Bees]

I know what you mean. It’s one of those things when it is right it is obvious. I thought I had only attached one photo (the last one). Not sure why I am bothered

This one? No, not a queen.

It's frustrating, but you'll see her in time.

 

[Beelosser]

Thanks. I know if it was a queen I wouldn’t needed to ask. Need to get a grip

 

[Beemanbunty]

No queen to be seen in the images unfortunately.

Bottom right. I think many newbies like me would like this type of advice. I know there is a queen in the hive, eggs and larvae but this year is a new unmarked queen. I have not seen her so far and am not good at finding them.

 

[Moobee]

Bottom right. I think many newbies like me would like this type of advice. I know there is a queen in the hive, eggs and larvae but this year is a new unmarked queen. I have not seen her so far and am not good at finding them.

Don’t fret. I’m just about to start my 2nd year of beekeeping and only saw the queen twice in a year and both times she disappeared again so quickly I couldn’t catch her (she was unmarked). It was only this spring when with the help of my mentor, we found her, caught her & marked & clipped her.
As long as you see eggs and brood in all stages at each inspection then she’s there!
You’ll find that once you see her, it will be easier next time.

 

[Earthboy]

Bottom right. I think many newbies like me would like this type of advice. I know there is a queen in the hive, eggs and larvae but this year is a new unmarked queen. I have not seen her so far and am not good at finding them.

She could look like these:









When finding the queen, try not to look at individual bees; instead try to look at the entire field. She will "pop" into your view. when pulling the frame, look at the wall of the next frame not pulled yet. It gives a better angle to quickly discern her on that wall. Then look at the frame you are holding in your hands.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Another tip is to look at the dark side of your frame first. Don't get distracted by anything else....look just for her.
Beginners usually take longer to look through a hive so she is often on the last frame.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

the queen will always try and get to the edge of the frame to sneak over to the darker side so start looking at the edges and work your way to the middle, look for any movement out of the ordinary but don't take ages staring wistfuly at the frame, a quick sweeping glance usually works better than a thorough search and you often see her towards the periphery of your vision.

 

[Beelosser]

Thanks.

 

[Levitt53]

Also if you look at the pictures Earthboy has posted you can see that the queen's wings only go part way down her body plus she has a bald thorax. It does take practice to find them but practice makes perfect.

 

[Curly green finger's]

Another thing if you have given them some foundation in the brood nest to draw out, when drawn after about a week look at that frame, very often I've found queen's on new drawn comb laying or at least saying come on draw more please I'm looking!

 

[Murox]

the queen will always try and get to the edge of the frame to sneak over to the darker side so start looking at the edges and work your way to the middle, look for any movement out of the ordinary but don't take ages staring wistfuly at the frame, a quick sweeping glance usually works better than a thorough search and you often see her towards the periphery of your vision.

So very true. I've been "looking" for the queen in one hive since March. Finally caught sight of her at last inspection, on the last frame, at the edge of the frame and in my periphery vision zone - of course I hadn't got the marking pen with me - doh!