One of the most common frustrations new beekeepers face is finding the queen. She’s in there somewhere — laying eggs, running the show — but spotting her in a writhing sea of tens of thousands of bees? That’s another story.
Even experienced beekeepers (👋 guilty) sometimes miss her on the first pass. She’s not always marked, not always big, and if she’s camera-shy or on the move, good luck.
Here’s the truth:
You don’t have to see the queen to know she’s doing her job.
✅ Fresh eggs
✅ A “solid” brood pattern (think brick wall, not shotgun blast)
✅ Calm colony behavior
Those are your signs. Sure, it’s nice to spot her — and sometimes you need to for requeening or splitting — but don’t drive yourself crazy. Use your regular inspections to practice your queen-spotting skills.
When you are looking, don’t just search for her shape — watch for her movement patterns. The queen usually has a “retinue” of bees attending her, and it can look like a little rugby scrum around her. Sometimes she just barges through the hive like, “’Scuse me. ’Scuse me.”
Think: pushy lady at the KMart Blue Light Special.
🎥 I recently made a short video on this exact issue. Give it a watch at the link below or window at the bottom of the page:
👉 Finding the Queen – YouTube
And if you're in the thick of summer inspections and squinting through the frames — just remember: you’re not alone. Keep practicing. You’ll get better.
🐝 #beeboy