In the beekeeping world, a marked queen is easy to find, and her colour tells you her age. Queens are often replaced after a couple of seasons, so knowing which hives hold older queens helps you decide which colonies to inspect first.
The queen bee colour code is the international standard: white, yellow, red, green and blue, repeating every five years. The colour is set by the last digit of the year the queen emerged. The system works well with two parts: a matching POSCA mark on the hive exterior, and a written record. This guide covers hive labels and records, not applying POSCA to bees.
The queen bee colour code
Use the last digit of the year the queen was raised. A handy memory aid is the phrase “Will You Raise Good Bees”: white, yellow, red, green, blue.
| Year ends in | Colour | Suited to |
|---|---|---|
| 1 or 6 | White | Hive labels for queens raised in years ending in 1 or 6 |
| 2 or 7 | Yellow | Hive labels for queens raised in years ending in 2 or 7 |
| 3 or 8 | Red | Hive labels for queens raised in years ending in 3 or 8 |
| 4 or 9 | Green | Hive labels for queens raised in years ending in 4 or 9 |
| 5 or 0 | Blue | Hive labels for queens raised in years ending in 5 or 0 |
Why use POSCA for hive marking
- Highly visible colours: quick identification even during busy inspections.
- Precision nibs: apply a neat dot or short band on timber, boxes and labels.
- Quick-drying paint: marks dry fast, so you can move on to the next hive.
You can explore individual POSCA pen colours here: POSCA Individual Pens.
Marking the hive exterior
- Confirm the colour: work out the matching colour from the queen’s emergence year.
- Choose a consistent spot: pick one position on the hive exterior, such as the lid edge, and use it on every hive.
- Clean and dry that spot: free of wax and propolis.
- Prime the marker: shake it with the cap on, then press the tip on scrap material.
- Add the mark: draw a dot or short band in the matching colour.
- Let it dry: then check the label against the hive record.
Updating your marks when you requeen
- Confirm the replacement queen’s emergence year and colour, which may differ from the old queen’s.
- Cover or replace the old exterior label so only the current colour shows.
- Add the replacement colour in the same position.
- Record the change date and reason; retain earlier changes in the hive history.
Record-keeping that matches the colour
- Record the hive number, queen colour and emergence year.
- Match the record’s colour to the exterior label, so a quick scan of the page matches the apiary.
- Note the date the queen was last seen.
- Log each replacement separately.
If you do not know the queen’s emergence year, record it as unknown rather than guessing a colour.
Common questions from beekeepers
Does the colour tell me the exact age of the queen?
No. The code repeats every five years, so a colour fits two possible years within a decade. Pair the colour with a written record that holds the exact emergence year.
What if I don’t know the queen’s emergence year?
Record the year as unknown instead of guessing. Confirm the year, then assign the colour.
Which POSCA marker suits hive labels?
The POSCA PC-5M has a medium bullet tip and makes a bold, readable mark on timber. It is sold singly and in sets — see POSCA Marker Sets.
Can POSCA markers be used on the queen herself?
This guide covers hive exteriors and records only. Use a product made for queen marking on the bee itself.
Keep the colour on the hive, not the guesswork
Pick the position of your colour mark once and stick to it. The same spot on every hive means you can scan an entire apiary at a glance, and a new helper learns the system in one walkthrough.
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