Label a bee: Label the Bee Printout — EnchantedLearning.com

Posted on 9 октября, 2023 by alexxlab

Label the Bee Printout — EnchantedLearning.com

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Answers
Bee Printout

Label the Bee
Read the definitions, then label the diagram below.
Definitions

Animal Printouts
Label Me! Printouts

Abdomen — the segmented tail area (it has nine segments) of a bee, that contains the heart, reproductive organs, wax glands, and most of the digestive system
Antenna — one of two sensory appendages attached to the head of adult bees
Compound Eye — one of two large eyes that are made up of many hexagonal lenses
Forewing — one of the two large, upper wings (attached to the thorax)
Head — The head is the part of the insect that contains the brain, the eyes, the proboscis, and the mandibles — the two antennae are attached to the head
Hindwing — one of the two lower wings (attached to the thorax).
Honeycomb — the hexagonal structure made of wax that is constructed by bees and used to incubate eggs and store honey
Leg — adult bees have six legs attached to the thorax

Mandibles — a pair of plier-like jaws — located on the lower sides of the head.

They are used to carry things, construct and clean the hive, hold enemies, and bite into flowers (to release pollen)
Pollen baskets — areas located on the hind legs — used for carrying pollen back to the hive
Proboscis — a straw-like tongue attached on the head — it is used for eating tiny particles like pollen
Simple eyes — small eyes located towards the front of the face — they can only tell light from dark
Stinger — a sharp shaft located at the end of the abdomen and used for defense — only present on females
Thorax — the body section between the head and the abdomen — the legs and wings attach to the thorax
Wax glands — glands under the abdomen that make wax — used in forming the honeycomb

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stickers, paints, markers, wing clipping

Among the bees, the queen deserves special attention. To make it easier to find it among other bees and get certain information, beekeepers resort to marking. This provides a host of benefits. You can mark the uterus in different ways — each option has its own characteristics.

Why do queens need to be tagged?

Labeling of queens is carried out for various purposes. It greatly facilitates the work of the beekeeper, since it is problematic to find a queen among thousands of other bees, even taking into account her larger size. Marking is also carried out in order to obtain certain information on a particular individual or an entire apiary:

Age. Thanks to a special labeling system, you can find out the age of the uterus, since its egg production and the ratio of fertilized and unfertilized eggs depend on it (as the number of unfertilized eggs from which drones emerge increases with aging). In total, 5 flowers are used — one for each year, since the life expectancy of the uterus is an average of 5 years. The year of birth of an individual is determined according to the international system:
- 2014, 2019 — green;
- 2015, 2020 — blue;
- 2016, 2021 — white;
- 2017, 2022 — yellow;
- 2018, 2023 — red.
Bee owner. This option is convenient during the swarming of bees, especially if there are several apiaries in the area. Beekeepers agree among themselves and choose each color of the label.
Beehive in the apiary. Marking according to this principle helps during the swarming of bees and if the queen gets lost.
The origin of the individual. Queens are tagged for breeding work, breed differences, tracking the quality of an individual and the productivity of herself and her offspring.
Queen replacement time.
Isolation of barren queens before mating.
Tracking cases of silent change of uterus.
Record keeping of queens.

Methods for marking queens

Beekeepers mark queens in various ways. Choose the appropriate option depending on your own preferences and tagging goals.

Special stickers for tagging

This method is attractive due to its simplicity and minimum preparatory work. For labeling, special stickers (singers) are used, the material for which is usually foil, a plastic curved body.

There are special five-year sticker sets, ie a specific color is used for each year. Numbering from 1 to 100 may also be provided — this option is convenient for selection work.

Such labels are glued with BF medical glue or a special tool in the kit (usually an alcohol solution). To mark the uterus, a small drop of the composition is applied to the area between the wings and the sticker is quickly applied, slightly pressing on it. The marked individual must be kept in the cage for some time — this is necessary for the glue to dry and the label to be securely fastened.

An experienced beekeeper in the video below shows and explains how to mark queens with singe marks:

Marking queens with paint

Using paint to mark queens is a common method. The coloring composition can be purchased at a specialized store for beekeepers or a veterinary pharmacy. For marking, a color system by year, a specific color for a particular apiary, or any other option convenient for the beekeeper can be used.

Marking paint must be of a certain consistency. If necessary, acetone is used to dilute it, since an excessively thick composition will curl up. It should not be strongly diluted, as liquid paint will spread and can harm the insect.

It is easier to apply the paint with a thin brush. A diameter of 1-1.5 cm is enough. You can use one brush, washing it with acetone each time, but it is more convenient to purchase several devices — separately for each color. You can replace the tool with a match or a toothpick.

Marking is carried out according to the following algorithm:

Take the insect with the right hand and place it in the left hand (for left-handed people, vice versa). It is necessary to hold the uterus with the thumb and forefinger so that its abdomen is near the nail of the middle finger.
Abdomen must not be touched.
A colored circle is made on the back of the insect. Its dimensions should be no more than 3 mm.
Place the insect in the cage to dry the paint. Half an hour is enough for this, but for safety it is better to wait 1-1.5 hours.

Marking paint is applied exclusively to the back of the insect. The substance must not come into contact with its wings or head. Beginners are advised to use drones or worker bees for training — the loss of several individuals of this status is not terrible.

How to mark the queen with paint is shown in the video below:

Marking bees with paint has several disadvantages: the inability to number individuals due to their size, the fragility of the composition (it wears off quickly enough, and besides, the bees are in a hurry to clean their queen from fresh paint) and toxicity. There is also a risk of disturbing the hive, as the paint has a specific odor. This factor must be taken into account when choosing the composition, as well as after its application — the longer you keep the bee separately, the better the smell will disappear.

Some beekeepers use nail polish instead of paint. This option is attractive low cost and a rich selection of colors. The varnish does not last long, so it is convenient to use it for specific purposes, for example, marking infertile queens.

Marking queens with a marker

Special marking markers have become an excellent alternative to paints. They are easy to use even for beginners in beekeeping. An important advantage of the composition used is the absence of toxicity, which means harmlessness to insects. Markers are convenient to carry with you — they fit in your pocket, you can mark an individual at any time. The advantages include the stability of the composition — trusted manufacturers use high-quality dyes that are resistant to ultraviolet radiation and water.

Marking the uterus with a marker using a special ring

Colored markers are used for marking. In the assortment you can find not only 5 primary colors, but also other options. This allows you to develop your own marking system for each apiary.

Wing clipping

This method should only be used by professional beekeepers as there is a high risk of damaging the queen. If there are several bee colonies in the apiary, then to distinguish between the queens, their wings are cut in a special way — on the right or left, a certain half, to a specific length.

Often the trimming feature is oriented to the year — in an odd year, wings are trimmed on one side, in an even year, on the opposite side. This option is effective because queens are usually replaced every 2 years.

In any case, act according to the following algorithm:

Hold the individual by the breast with the left hand, fixing it with the thumb and forefinger. The wings should be free.
Cut off half of the defined wing. For this, you need to use small and sharply sharpened scissors with rounded ends so as not to accidentally injure the uterus.

Wing clipping is carried out after mating of the queen, when she has already begun to lay eggs. This marking method has an undeniable advantage — the prevention of swarming.

Many modern beekeepers consider wing clipping to be barbaric and prefer to use paints, markers or stickers instead. It is believed that the clipped wings of the uterus adversely affect its vital activity and efficiency.

When marking queens by clipping their wings, there is a risk that the rest of the colony will perceive her as unhealthy and damaged. In this case, a change of queen may occur.

The disadvantage of the method is the fact that clipped wings do not highlight the uterus very well. Among other bees, it is also problematic to find it, and in order to identify the features of pruning, an individual must be carefully examined. Color spots and numbering are much more effective.

Marking features of queens

It is recommended to mark queens immediately after they leave the queen cell. During this period, individuals are in a calm state, are kept in special cells.

An experienced beekeeper can mark the queen right next to the nest. The insect can fly away during the process, so it is recommended to mark in front of a closed window — it is most convenient to catch a bee on glass. This option is especially good when it is necessary to mark infertile queens — they fly very well.

A special cap or ring can be used for easy labeling. The ring is used if the uterus needs to be marked with a marker, paint or sticker. With this device, the individual is slightly pressed down. This option allows you to mark the uterus directly on the comb, but only with a marker — the paint does not have time to dry, so the worker bees will simply clean it off.

Caps are used to mark the bee’s head. This option is useful when using markers.

For the convenience of marking queens, a special tube is also used, resembling a syringe in design. One end of the tube is limited by a grating against which the individual will be pressed during the process. The uterus is pressed with a piston, which has a soft base made of foam rubber — it allows you not to damage the bee.

See the following video for marking queens with a Flaubert tube:

When marking queens according to the international system, colored buttons for frames (beehives) are also used. The color of the queen label should match the color of the button. Instead, you can make a mark on the frame or hive with the appropriate paint.

Queen marking is an important process in the apiary. With its help, the work of the beekeeper is greatly facilitated — he can quickly find the queen among thousands of other bees, get certain information on a particular individual. Marking is carried out in different ways. Each method has its own characteristics, advantages and disadvantages.

Publication author

Queen markers and tags

Experienced beekeepers use different methods to mark queens:
opalite marks, special paints, markers. It is necessary to mark the uterus not only
in order to easily find her environment as a worker bee, but also for others
purposes: for example, to determine the age of the uterus, who is its owner, from what
hive to distinguish between origin and breed, do not miss the queen replacement time,
identify infertile queens, keep records, etc.

Recently, special
markers for labeling queens. Of course, the marker has many advantages: firstly,
it has become an excellent alternative to paints that easily spread and emit
toxic substances; secondly, it can easily mark the uterus with a marker even
beginner beekeeper. The marker is convenient to carry in your pocket, so mark
the uterus can be at any time. It is important to note that the markers are non-toxic, which means that
do not harm insects. Proven manufacturers use in the composition
high-quality dyes resistant to water and ultraviolet radiation.

Typically 5 colors are used, one for each year. Colors
marks by years according to the international system:

2014, 2019 —
green;

2015, 2020 –
blue;

2016, 2021 –
white;

2017, 2022 –
yellow;

2018, 2023 –
red.

Markers from various manufacturers
differ in composition. More often found on a water, varnish and oil basis.
Let’s analyze the advantages and disadvantages:

Poska(Japan) :

v
Acrylic water based

v
Odorless

v
Safe

v
Long lasting

v
Intense color

Uni Paint (Mistubisi, Vietnam):

v
Oil based lacquer

v
Gives off odor

v
Safe

v
The most stable due to its base

Paint (Korea):

v
Oil based

v
Gives off odor

v
Safe

v
Good stability

v
Usually cheaper than other brands

Queen Marker (China ):

v
Acrylic water based

v
Odorless

v
Bee safe

v
Long lasting

v
Great alternative to more expensive Japanese
marker

Edding (Germany):

v
Lacquer base

v
Odorless

v
Safe

v
Lasts a long time

And so, we realized that a special marker is convenient and safe
queen labeling method.

Label the Bee Printout — EnchantedLearning.com

Bee Label Ideas — 30+ Best Bee Label Designs In 2023

Bee labels not a good fit? Try something else:

How to create your bee label design

What makes a good bee label?

stickers, paints, markers, wing clipping

Why do queens need to be tagged?

Methods for marking queens

Special stickers for tagging

Marking queens with paint

Marking queens with a marker

Wing clipping

Marking features of queens

Publication author

Queen markers and tags

By alexxlab