With thousands of bees in a hive, how does one fine THE queen in all that activity?
In: Biology
**Cross your eyes**
No joke. This is a tip an old-timer once taught me and I surprised not to see it here in the comments.
Most of the bees on a frame move randomly. The queen is the only that moves differently. Worker bees will move out of her way and sometimes there are attendants following her. It can be hard to see at first. Blurring your vision with crossed eyes can help you see the difference in the pattern. Think of it as a “forrest through the trees” kind of thing.
Notes:
* I tend to collect wild swarms, so the queens are not painted.
* Holding each frame up to the sun can help. The queen will instinctively move out of the light.
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