How to pick up a bee without getting stung

A simple trick that doesn't hurt the bee and gets the job done. As Michael Palmer likes to say, "Queens have handles!"


A useful thing to practice before you have to mark your queens, or pick them up for any reason. Queens almost certainly won't sting you, even though they physically can; but knowing that they can can make you uneasy! If you are afraid of a queen when you try to catch her, you are more likely to drop her and let her fly away in terror, never to be found again...or just as bad, injure her. So practice.


Practice with drones first, to build your confidence, because they don't even have a stinger. They can't sting you anymore than boys can breastfeed.


Then, once you get the technique down, I recommend practicing with workers. They are smaller than drones, more agile and flexible, and harder to grab. Once you've grabbed enough workers without getting stung and without getting that adrenaline rush that makes your hands shake, you will be skilled enough and calm enough to pick up your queen without losing her or hurting her. Calm is the key!


If you're considering using bucket feeders to feed your bees, then you should check out how I accidentally crystallized my bees: youtube.com/watch?v=NF5mcnGGTZg


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Honeybees for sale! Brood and nucs for sale: honeydropfarm.com


Sean Govan -- beekeeper near Ogema, Wisconsin. 785-340-5312