Queen falling on the ground!

**WI-beek** · 07-04-2011, 10:48 PM

How often do you notice queens falling off of the frame on you for no apparent reason really? I had this happen last year with a marked queen, she and a couple bees fell on my boot and I looked down and could not believe my eyes. Today I was making a nuc for someone and found the queen on the fourth or fifth frame, started moving toward the nuc box and down she fell, lucky me she fell right on a frame of foundation and stayed put long enough for me to put the other frame into nuc and pic the foundation up and stick her in there. I know she was not injured, I was careful to move the frame over when pulling it out and spotted her in the middle right away so I know she did not rub on the side. This must happen more often unnoticed than one thinks and ba bye queen.

**RayMarler** · 07-05-2011, 01:21 AM

Yes, it can happen more than some people might think. I've gotten so I hold the frame over the top of the hive to inspect it, to help prevent lost or miss-placed queens.

**Michael Palmer** · 07-05-2011, 04:05 AM

Did you ever see the video, The Monk and the Honeybee? It it Brother Adam scolds his helper for holding the frame horizontally...because the queen may fall off.

**honeyman46408** · 07-05-2011, 04:53 AM

I have had that happen one of the first queens I started from a swarm cell, now I was proud as proud can bee and as I wlaked to where the sun shined on the frame a little better I heard her drop into the grass never to be seen again

so now I tell all the nubees to hold the frame over the hive while looking at it.
I also had a queen fly about 20ft, lucky she hit the side of my truck and fell in the grass and I was lucky to find her

**Ravenseye** · 07-05-2011, 06:11 AM

Had one hover above the hive last week and then drop on top of the frames and crawl back in. Good advice to hold the frames over the hive!

**AstroBee** · 07-05-2011, 08:25 AM

I've seen it more with virgin queens who are much faster and really intent on avoiding the watchful beekeeper. Of course virgins are more likely to take flight, but really young ones are not as likely to fly.

**WI-beek** · 07-05-2011, 09:45 AM

"Did you ever see the video, The Monk and the Honeybee?"

This is not free to watch anywhere is it? You have to buy it correct?

**MJuric** · 07-05-2011, 10:43 AM

Just last week I found one of mine on my pant leg.

I usually pull one frame and hang it on hangers on the side of the box. I do a pretty thorough inspection of that frame now to make sure there's no queen on there.

~Matt

**WI-beek** · 07-05-2011, 10:45 AM

I just watched a video and the guy shook the bees off into the hive of the first frame before leaning it up against the hive, might be good practice.

**Omie** · 07-05-2011, 12:03 PM

Originally Posted by MJuric

I usually pull one frame and hang it on hangers on the side of the box. I do a pretty thorough inspection of that frame now to make sure there's no queen on there.

Yes I just did this today. Pulled the side frame, look it over carefully for the queen, then hang it on a frame holder gently. All the other frames i slide over a little and then inspect them while holding them over the open nuc. Found her majesty safe and sound today on one of the middle frames.
I imagine queens must be twice as heavy as workers and can more easily lose their grip and fall. They also scurry towards the other darker side of the frame being held up to the light, so maybe they fall off as they round the edge too.