Queen Marking Colors
Look up the international color code for marking queen bees by year.
Queen marking color for
2026
White
Year Overview
Color Reference
Mnemonic: Will You Raise Good Bees? (White, Yellow, Red, Green, Blue)
| Color | Years ending in | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| White | 1 or 6 | 2021, 2026 |
| Yellow | 2 or 7 | 2022, 2027 |
| Red | 3 or 8 | 2023, 2028 |
| Green | 4 or 9 | 2024, 2029 |
| Blue | 0 or 5 | 2020, 2025 |
Why mark queens?
Marking a queen with a dot of paint on her thorax makes her easier to find during inspections and tells you her age at a glance. The international color code repeats every five years, so you always know when your queen was introduced.