Nice warm day. Tons of activity in and out of both hives. Smoked Reese's hive, cracked the top, and peered in. They had eaten 3/4 of the syrup. I checked the frames and they are just working on the 7th frame. I figured that why not put the hive body on top. So I did and replaced the syrup and took out the entrance reducer. I spoke to Harry P. who had gone to the club meeting where Howard had suggested that the entrance reducer be taken out. So I did.
Then, smoked and checked in to see the girls. WOW. Huge progress. Almost all the frames filled or at least bing worked on. I did the same thing to my hive: additional hive body, 1/4 syrup left and entrance reducer out! Check out the pictures.
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Saturday, May 5, 2007
Sunny Saturday
No pictures this time. Took some but haven't downloaded them yet.
Went with Reese on Saturday to check out the girls. Nice sunny day. There was lots of activity around both hives. Bright orange pollen, dark green and some electric yellow. We saw some large ants walking in and out of the hive. The bees tended to repel them but the ants were persistent enough to walk in. We'll watch that next weekend to see if it continues. Maybe put some cinnamon down around the hive.
Reese's hive had about 5 frames nicely drawn. 3 of the were nice and heavy. He did have some buckling of the foundation on one frame which resulted in huge piece of burr comb with capped brood, etc on it. We moved that out so that it faced the exterior edge of the hive. Not sure that was the right move since burr comb is only going to get worse. We just felt bad to destroy that huge piece.
My hive seemed a little further along. The bees were very gentle and a few puffs of smoke had them tamed down below. 6 or 7 frames nicely drawn with 4-5 full frames. Capped brood, and some honey cells. Lots of big fat brood hanging out in their cells. Still no sign of the queen but at this point, we know she is around and we'll let her be. No pun intended...
Both hives had eaten a good amount of syrup but only 1/2 to 2/3 of the pail. We switched the pails out and wondered if that was the last time we fed them. Dandelions are out as well as a ton of other flowering plants.
Other Notes
Matt Smith dropped by with his friend. He reported that his hive was doing ok and he hadn't really opened it a lot recently.
Harry Peper said that he applied the powdered sugar last weekend and it was a colossal mess. He said it got everywhere and was a bit of a logistical nightmare. The powdered sugar is part of an attempt to stem the onset of the Varoa Mite. Apparently they can't cling on as well to the bees with the sugar on top. Otherwise, his hive was ok.
Went with Reese on Saturday to check out the girls. Nice sunny day. There was lots of activity around both hives. Bright orange pollen, dark green and some electric yellow. We saw some large ants walking in and out of the hive. The bees tended to repel them but the ants were persistent enough to walk in. We'll watch that next weekend to see if it continues. Maybe put some cinnamon down around the hive.
Reese's hive had about 5 frames nicely drawn. 3 of the were nice and heavy. He did have some buckling of the foundation on one frame which resulted in huge piece of burr comb with capped brood, etc on it. We moved that out so that it faced the exterior edge of the hive. Not sure that was the right move since burr comb is only going to get worse. We just felt bad to destroy that huge piece.
My hive seemed a little further along. The bees were very gentle and a few puffs of smoke had them tamed down below. 6 or 7 frames nicely drawn with 4-5 full frames. Capped brood, and some honey cells. Lots of big fat brood hanging out in their cells. Still no sign of the queen but at this point, we know she is around and we'll let her be. No pun intended...
Both hives had eaten a good amount of syrup but only 1/2 to 2/3 of the pail. We switched the pails out and wondered if that was the last time we fed them. Dandelions are out as well as a ton of other flowering plants.
Other Notes
Matt Smith dropped by with his friend. He reported that his hive was doing ok and he hadn't really opened it a lot recently.
Harry Peper said that he applied the powdered sugar last weekend and it was a colossal mess. He said it got everywhere and was a bit of a logistical nightmare. The powdered sugar is part of an attempt to stem the onset of the Varoa Mite. Apparently they can't cling on as well to the bees with the sugar on top. Otherwise, his hive was ok.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
And Now Taiwan Loosing Bees?
TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan's bee farmers are feeling the sting of lost business and possible crop danger after millions of the honey-making, plant-pollinating insects vanished during volatile weather, media and experts said on Thursday.[more]
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
NYT: Bees Vanish, and Scientists Race for Reasons
Saturday, April 21, 2007
All is good
Sunny day Saturday but i was apprehensive as I approached the hives. As I pulled up, I saw tons of activity as they were streaming in and out of the hives. On closer observation, I saw them coming in laden with pollen. With the entrance reducers on, the bees were pushing and shoving their way into the hive.
Reese's Hive: Smoke and popped the top. There was still some sugar syrup left in the feeder (1/4 full). I scrapped 2 gorgeous pieces of burr comb off. No eggs that i could see. As I tilted the frame, the foundation popped off the hinges causing a great commotion. After carefully threading the foundation back in, I was able to pull it taut and place it back in the frame. Try as I might but could not find the queen and more importantly, no evidence of the queen. No eggs, larva or other....bad news, or so I though.
Karsten's Hive: No more syrup and almost a full frame with pollen, capped brood, some larvae and tons of activity. Little to no burr comb. Tried to find the queen but had no such luck. Replaced the syrup on both hives and closed them up.
As I headed home I wondered what was going on with Reese's hive. No eggs but everything seemed fine. I got home and examined with the burr comb with Axel. As I was pointing out to him the cells, I held the comb up to the light and BINGO, tiny little larvae. And as I looked, i could see tiny tiny little eggs, delicately placed in each cell. I felt elated but sad at the same time. Good news was that the queen was evident but had I just taken out a significant portion of the eggs she had laid?
The queen lays about 1500-2000 eggs a day once she really gets going. So, I did not feel too bad.
Just thrilled that we are well on our way!! More this weekend.
Reese's Hive: Smoke and popped the top. There was still some sugar syrup left in the feeder (1/4 full). I scrapped 2 gorgeous pieces of burr comb off. No eggs that i could see. As I tilted the frame, the foundation popped off the hinges causing a great commotion. After carefully threading the foundation back in, I was able to pull it taut and place it back in the frame. Try as I might but could not find the queen and more importantly, no evidence of the queen. No eggs, larva or other....bad news, or so I though.
Karsten's Hive: No more syrup and almost a full frame with pollen, capped brood, some larvae and tons of activity. Little to no burr comb. Tried to find the queen but had no such luck. Replaced the syrup on both hives and closed them up.
As I headed home I wondered what was going on with Reese's hive. No eggs but everything seemed fine. I got home and examined with the burr comb with Axel. As I was pointing out to him the cells, I held the comb up to the light and BINGO, tiny little larvae. And as I looked, i could see tiny tiny little eggs, delicately placed in each cell. I felt elated but sad at the same time. Good news was that the queen was evident but had I just taken out a significant portion of the eggs she had laid?
The queen lays about 1500-2000 eggs a day once she really gets going. So, I did not feel too bad.
Just thrilled that we are well on our way!! More this weekend.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Post Flood
We got about 5 inches of rain Sunday through Tuesday. So yesterday, on my way back from Portsmouth, I swung by the hives to see if they were still standing. They were. But there was 5-8 inches of standing water all around the hive. We had raised the hives on a little platform. I wanted to open them up to see how they were doing but resisted. I placed my ear to the hive bodies and gave them a good KNOCK. Reese's hive responded loudly, but mine was less enthusiastic. Just a lone bee sound. I hope all is well.... We're going out on Saturday to feed them and check up on them. With the better weather, I am confident that they will have newfound energy.
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