Polish opaliths - 5 years + glue

Five colours are used alternately, as the longest life expectancy of queen bees is 5 years

How to Use Queen Marking Opaliths

Queen marking opaliths are small, coloured discs that are used to mark queen bees for easy identification. The process of using these opaliths typically involves the following steps:

1. Preparation: Before marking the queen, it is essential to have all the necessary tools ready. This includes the opaliths, special glue, and an applicator stick or a queen marking tube or cage.
2. Handling the Queen: Carefully pick up the queen bee, either by using a tweezer, a marking device, or by gently grasping her wings between your fingers. It is crucial to handle the queen gently to avoid injuring her.
3. Applying Glue: Place a small drop of glue onto the applicator stick. The glue provided with the opaliths is usually designed to be safe for bees and to hold the opalith securely in place.
4. Attaching the Opalith: Press the opalith onto the queen's thorax, which is the segment of the body located between her head and abdomen. The thorax is where the wings and legs are attached, and it provides a flat surface for the opalith.
5. Drying Time: Allow the glue to dry for a short period before releasing the queen back into the colony. This ensures that the opalith stays in place and is not rubbed off by the other bees.
6. Colour Coding: Use the international colour code for marking queens, which changes annually. This helps beekeepers to identify the age of the queen at a glance.

Benefits of Using Queen Marking Opaliths

The benefits of using queen marking opaliths are numerous and can significantly aid in the management of bee colonies:

1. Easy Identification: A marked queen is much easier to find among thousands of worker bees, which saves time during hive inspections and reduces stress for both the bees and the beekeeper.
2. Age Tracking: The colour code system allows beekeepers to quickly determine the age of the queen, which is important for making decisions about requeening and managing the productivity of the colony.
3. Swarm and Supersedure Indication: If a beekeeper finds an unmarked queen in a hive that previously had a marked queen, it indicates that the colony has either swarmed or the queen has been superseded. This information is critical for understanding the colony's dynamics and for taking appropriate management actions.
4. Research and Record-Keeping: For beekeepers involved in research or selective breeding, marking queens with numbered opaliths allows for precise record-keeping and tracking of genetic lines.
5. Colony Cohesion: Younger, marked queens are more prolific layers and produce more pheromones that maintain colony cohesion, making the colony less prone to swarming and less susceptible to stressful conditions.
6. Safety: Using the proper tools and methods for marking queens minimizes the risk of injuring the queen, which could lead to her rejection by the colony