I have a friend who has been keeping bees for a few years less than I have, but he asked me a question that I could not answer. He purchased 6 queens this spring--all Italian and very yellow. Installed them in hives. All built up well and prospered.
When he pulled his supers recently, he inspected them and found that all the queens were black. I must admit, when he told me this, I immediately thought "superceded". But he says, "No way." They were marked queens and they still bear the markings!
So what is the deal? Can queens change their colors?
When he pulled his supers recently, he inspected them and found that all the queens were black. I must admit, when he told me this, I immediately thought "superceded". But he says, "No way." They were marked queens and they still bear the markings!
So what is the deal? Can queens change their colors?