One-hand Queen Marking cage

01 · THE CATCH

You guide her in, you do not chase her

Open the door and guide the queen inside from the comb, without knocks and without closing on her legs. Once she is in, close it and move the piston little by little: the foam should bring her to the mesh with the least pressure needed to stop her moving, and no more. If she looks twisted or is struggling, back the piston off and reposition her — there is no hurry, and an over-pressed queen is one the colony may reject later.

02 · THE PISTON IS FINGER-PUSHED

There is no side slider, and it is worth knowing

This model has no slider on the side to raise the piston: you push it with your finger from the base, which is what lets you work it one-handed and keep the other hand free for the marker. Anyone coming from a catcher with a slider notices on day one and thinks it a step back; in practice, with your thumb underneath, the movement comes naturally by the third queen. Before heading out, check at home that door, mesh and piston move without sticking.

03 · MARKING

One dot on the thorax, then let it dry

With the queen still against the mesh, place a small dot of paint or marker on the dorsal part of the thorax — never on the head, abdomen, wings or joints. Hold her only as long as necessary and wait until the colour stops transferring before releasing her; then open the door over the same frame and let her walk out. Marking helps you find her and record her year: it says nothing about her mating, her genetics or her health.

04 · BEFORE YOU BUY

This is the tool for anyone who does not see themselves picking the queen up by hand — and that includes plenty of people with years of beekeeping behind them. It solves the handling, though, not the search: finding her on the frame is still the hard part. Clean off paint and propolis without harsh solvents and store it with the piston uncompressed.