Queen Clip Plastic
Lightweight plastic queen clip. Gently restrains the queen for safe capture and marking.
- Spring-loaded clip holds the queen without injury
- Lightweight — easy to keep in a jacket pocket
What it is
A plastic queen clip — a spring-loaded clamp that gently holds a queen between two clear plastic panels while you mark her or inspect her without risk of her flying away or being lost in the grass.
When to use one
Marking queens: trap the queen in the clip, mark her thorax with a paint pen, and release when dry. Queen replacement: move the queen between colonies without handling her directly. Inspection: keep track of her while you look at frames, then release her back into her own box.
Usage notes
Clips are not long-term queen storage — release within a few minutes. A queen in a clip stresses quickly, and a stressed queen is more likely to be balled when released. Work fast and release as soon as the task is done.
Plastic vs. stainless
Plastic clips are lighter and less expensive. Stainless clips last longer and hold their spring tension for more years of use. Most beekeepers pick one based on budget and how often they expect to mark queens — a handful of times per year, plastic is fine.
Compatibility
Universal — works with any queen regardless of breed or colony type.
