Marking virgins

[wilderness]

I caught a nugget of information from Poly Hive but can't find it again. He said virgins should not be marked.

Why not?

Sorry PH, I remembered wrongly, I found the post.
http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showpost.php?p=17187&postcount=10

 

[Poly Hive]

Did I?

Not sure I did as I have marked many a virgin.

However I would NOT recommend it for general practice.

PH

 

[victor meldrew]

The Germans mark their virgins prior to island mating (very successfully).

John Wilkinson

 

[Poly Hive]

Yes and if they include any drones their bees are sent home again.

If only............. if only we could get it together to do it on our profusion of islands.

PH

 

[Moonglow]

This question was asked at our local club apiary and the answer came back that you should not mark the queens as they make a better target for birds to pick out (swifts and house martins ) on there mating flight

 

[Poly Hive]

Possibly in theory.

In reality I never found it made any odds.

Another legend?

PH

 

[Haughton Honey]

Not sure I did as I have marked many a virgin.

One presumes that this was in your youth?!