Queens memory

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Exmoor
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Hi all

Presumably the queen does some orientation before going off on the maiden flight. Does she retain this memory - ie if she is shaken out some yards away a few months later, will she remember how to fly back to the colony?
 
If she is in laying condition she won't fly.
 
I had a laying queen (not clipped) fly during inspection last weekend. She has moved from where she was in the same apiary since her mating flight and she found her way straight back as I have eggs 5 days later. Laying queens can fly fine.


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Hi all

Presumably the queen does some orientation before going off on the maiden flight. Does she retain this memory - ie if she is shaken out some yards away a few months later, will she remember how to fly back to the colony?

worker bees briefly reorientate almost every day, so if she hasn't popped out to check before you move her, she won't know
 
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