Since distributing nucleus hives (nucs) to more than 100 beekeepers this season (many of them brand new), I've had a number of customers report that they have no queen or they can't find the queen. I always advise that they wait about four days, then try again and look for eggs or larvae. Many were still unable to find the queen so I visited four different customer apiaries and in EVERY case, I spotted the queen in under 30 seconds.
Here are a few tips for those who are still struggling:
1) Chances are, your nuc DOES have a queen. Yes, it does happen that a queen is killed during transport or something happens to her but it's the exception, not the rule. Often, especially with new beekeepers, you can be in such a hurry to get the frames into the hive that you rush through the inspection and just miss her. In most cases, stepping away for a few days and then approaching it again and taking the time to do a thorough inspection will resolve the issue.
2) DON'T USE YOUR SMOKER! Smoking the bees will always send the queen scurrying to the bottom and she's very good at hiding in spaces along the edge of the frame or hopping from one frame to another as you pull them out or just running around to the side of the frame you are not inspecting. Additionally, when using the smoker, other bees tend to cover her for her own safety and that makes it much more difficult to spot her. Approach the hive slowly. Take a few deep breaths before doing anything. Move slowly and deliberately as you start working the frames. Take your time and don't be in a rush. Often, the queen will be on the last frame I pull as she'll keep frame hopping away from you as you progress through the frames.
3) She will usually be on the frames with brood (unless she's freaked out and frame hopping). I don't look too closely at the outer frames that I pull first as I work my way through the hive. When I get a frame that has a lot of brood on it, I slow down and look more carefully. That's where I found her in every one of the four customer hives that I inspected.
4) She will be a longer (not fatter!) bee than the rest. Many new beekeepers mistake drones for queens, or their eyes are naturally drawn to the drones as they are larger. Ignore them. Focusing on the drones will make the job harder.
5) Some will tell you to look for a circle of bees surrounding her. This is not what I look for but in some cases, that is the case and might help.
6) I look for her pattern of movement. This is the first thing I look for when I examine a frame. Once you see how queens move, it makes them much easier to spot. Where most bees just seem to move about in the same general area and rarely in a straight line, the queen moves differently. She's often slower, very deliberate and doesn't take sharp corners or walk in little circles like many bees do. I don't see her walking over other bees but rather, I see her moving with determination as if she's got someplace else to be but isn't in a great hurry. Looking along the edges helps, as she'll often try to duck to the other side of the frame. When you do spot her, watch how she walks. Her moves and gait are markedly different from her subordinates and once you see how she walks, it's much easier to spot her the next time you go looking. It's sort of a wiggle-waddle - not sure how else to explain it. I can't stress enough how important it is to examine her and watch for a while after you find her. Note the differences in how she moves over the frame compared to the other bees. Watch the behavior of the bees around her. You will see the difference. Often, I will blur my vision a bit and just watch blurry patterns of movement and refocus when I see something different.
7) Bear in mind that she often won't look like the other bees. She may be daker or lighter. She should definitely be longer, with stubby little wings in proportion to the rest of her body.
8) Don't be frustrated if you can't find her. Sometimes, she'll have her butt down in a cell laying an egg and you just won't see her as she's not moving, her length is hidden and she's still. If you get to the last frame and still haven't found her, go back through the frames again. Sometimes it takes two or three examinations of all the frames for me to spot her, particularly if she's actively laying or just doesn't want to be found.
9) Look for eggs in the cells. In fact, you should do this every time you open your hive in order to train your eyes on what to look for. Eggs and very young larva indicate that you likely have an active queen. Watch for pollen going into the hive (those yellow, gray or orange 'bags' on the back legs of the worker bees). Pollen going into the hive is most often a good sign you have a viable queen.
10) If you absolutely can't find her after several attempts, consider calling a more experienced beekeeper to help. I can often come out if you don't live too far from me but I have to charge for my gas and time. If I find the queen, I can mark her so it's easier for you to spot her next time.
Let me know your experiences in the comments, or share any tips or tricks that you use to find your queen!
