Queen marking pens

Queen marking pens are specialized marking tools designed for safely and effectively marking honey bee queens. These pens typically use non-toxic, quick-drying paint in standardized colors that correspond to the year of queen introduction (international color codes). Marking queens with a colored dot on their thorax simplifies queen identification during hive inspections, making it easier to verify queen presence and age. Queen marking pens are commercially available and relatively inexpensive. Following marking conventions ensures consistent record-keeping across years.