Why Clipping Queen Bee Wings Must End Now
Updated: Oct 7
Why Clipping Queen Bee Wings is a Bad Practice
Clipping queen bee wings is a common practice in beekeeping, and we don't do it. Betsy and I have spent a lot of time around hives here in the Las Vegas heat, and the longer we keep bees, the less sense it makes to us to take something away from the one bee the whole colony is built around.
The reasoning behind it is simple enough. A queen who can't fly can't leave with a swarm, so the beekeeper keeps the colony, because a clipped wing doesn't grow back.
Beekeepers have been told for decades that it's harmless. Nobody has ever asked the queen.
We think there are better ways to manage a colony. Giving bees room before they run out of it, splitting strong hives, and paying attention to what the colony is telling you all work, and none of them involve scissors.
It takes more effort than a quick clip, which is probably why the clip caught on. We've found the extra effort is just called beekeeping.
The Toll on a Colony's Natural Defenses
Swarming is how honeybees reproduce, and it does more for a colony than most beekeepers give it credit for. When a swarm leaves, a good share of the Varroa mites go with it, and the parent colony then goes through a break in brood while it raises a new queen.
Mites need brood to reproduce, so that pause slows them down. Research on wild colonies, including work by Tom Seeley, points to frequent swarming as one reason feral bees hold up against mites without anyone treating them.
Clipping a queen's wings takes that option away. She can't leave, the swarm doesn't happen, and neither does the reset. The evidence on how much swarming helps is mixed, so we won't claim it's a cure. We'd still rather work with that instinct, with room, splits, and attention, than cut it out of the colony.
A Violation of Nature's Harmony
We think of beekeeping as a partnership. The bees do what bees have done for millions of years, and our job is to give them a good place to do it. Most of what we've learned in the field came from watching them and getting out of their way.
Clipping a queen's wings goes the other way. It's a fix that serves the beekeeper, and the queen pays for it. Plenty of beekeepers do it and consider it routine, and we understand why it caught on. We just don't think a colony's natural behavior should be cut out because it's inconvenient for us.
A colony that wants to swarm is telling you something, and the better answer is to listen to it.
If keeping bees means taking things away from them for our own convenience, we'd say that's worth a second look. The bees come first, or we're just collecting boxes.
Fortunately, alternative methods allow us to manage our colonies without resorting to such invasive and harmful practices. Regular hive inspections, ample space within the hive, and timely supering can mitigate overcrowding and reduce the risk of swarming.
Queen-rearing and colony splitting give beekeepers a way to manage colony size without clipping, and we respect the people who use them. We don't do either.
Our bees are free to swarm, and we only open the hives twice a year. The rest of the time they run the place, and they're better at it than we'd be.
A Call to Action
If you keep bees and you clip your queens, we're not here to scold you. Most of us were taught it was normal, and plenty of us did it before we knew better. All we're asking is that you try one season without it and see what your bees do.
If you teach a newer beekeeper, tell them there's another way. If you're not sure, ask us. We'll tell you what we've seen in our own hives, and we'll tell you where we don't know the answer.
And if a swarm ever lands in your yard here in Las Vegas, please don't reach for the spray. Call us. We'll relocate it alive, and it'll be the most relaxed bees you ever meet.
Betsy and Pete
Las Vegas, Nevada
About Us: The Authors
We're Betsy and Pete, passionate Las Vegas beekeepers trained by a master in the field. With hundreds of successful bee and bee swarm removals under our belts, we're not just experts; we're enthusiasts committed to the well-being of these incredible pollinators.
We manage dozens of beehives, both natural and honey-bearing at our Joshua Tree Preserve.
Our Commitment to Excellence
We believe education is an ongoing journey, especially in a field as dynamic as beekeeping. That's why we're continually updating our knowledge base, collaborating with other experts, and staying up to date with the latest advancements in bee control methods and beekeeping practices.
We also provide top-tier beekeeping supplies, offering everything a beekeeper needs, from beginners to experts.
