Best way is to grab them is by their wings and quickly push them in the un-corked hole. Remember to keep a finger over the hole to stop the caged workers from escaping.
Yes, occasionally you will get stung.
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If a job is worth doing - Then do it well
When I took my "beginner's class" at a queen-breeding farm, they had to have 100 queens go out that day. So they put us to work helping as part of our classwork. We picked the queens off the comb by holding their wings and set them, head first, into the queen cages giving them a slight push with a finger when needed.
Then we used the same method with the workers to make up for attendants (look for the workers who have their heads stuck into a cell). However, if needing to nudge them into the cage, use a fingernail. I held the cages vertically with the entrance at the bottom. Bees inside would stay at the top, and bees being added volunteered to walk up into the cage.
also look for the "fuzzies" (younger workers) for the attendants.
Hook, that was a great idea [flipping the screen with the attendants on it]! I'll try that next year. Thanks...
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