Jeff,
I have had the same questions. I have also heard some real "naturalist" types suggest its not good. So I asked some questions, and sought some answers. Very hard to get. They included finding...
The paint stick sold by the bee mags are the same paint sticks sold at craft and hobby stores. Last one I bought from a bee mag was a "uniPOSCA", pc-5m made from mitsubishi. I was somewhat surprised as I had originally thought that a "special" paint marker was developed for the specific use for bees. Not so. It also seems that any specific testing or data about the safeness in applying paint to a queens back is nowhere to be found.
On one hand, although many paints are safe, can you imagine placing a paint spot on your back the size of two feet square? And carrying it around for your lifetime? This I guess would equate to the spot on the queen. I'm not sure if I would want that myself. Not sure the long term effect, even if the danger seemed small.
The other hand, is the many who say that they see no difference. But without any real study, how can one be sure?
The glue used for attaching numbers is in the same catagory as the paint. Nobody it seems has any real data or tests, beyond casual comments of suggesting they have seen little difference.
I have read that "damaged" queens, can and will promote supercedure. How much, I do not know. Some, rare, or never? Hard to say.
I do try to keep stress down, and keep hives as close to "natural' as possible. I have kept marked breeder queens, but do not mark my main yards queens.
The area I am concerned with, is the laws being passed in response to AHB dangers. MAAREC, and some of the east coast states are going to make marking queens manditory once AHB's have been found in the county/state. On the surface, I don't have a problem since knowing your queens genetics will be very important. And I support that. What I don't support is the forcing me to use paint on queens, with little data, and apparently no scientific testing of paint being used in the market today. It would not be the first time that something was found to be detrimental to health, years later. I hope we are not repeating that again.
I think a study of introducing marked queens, introducing glue and dot queens, and seeing if introduction rates, supercedure rates, lifespan, queen viability, and other factors, should be completed. When each person has a choice, I can deal with that. When you tell me I must do it...I want proof. Very simple.
It would not surprise me one way or the other to find its safe, or its not safe. Just wish we did not have to guess, speculate, or make educated guesses. Seems it should be clear. But its not.
[ February 09, 2007, 06:50 AM: Message edited by: BjornBee ]
