Re: What have you done today bee-related?
PostPosted:16 Jun 2021, 23:46
Had a colony swarm whilst at the apiary yesterday.
I was sat in car for 5 mins to write records before inspecting the next colony, with my back to the hives. Stood up to find swarm in air. Thinking hives not in swarm mode, must be incoming. Watched, and they looked as if aiming to settle in hedge. 25mins later and they're all over the second of the smaller hives. Eventually they clustered under floor. Left them there while I opened the hive to check.......
The colony had swarmed with the clipped queen. There were no signs the previous inspection, 7 days ago, that they were intending to do anything, with brood across 6 frames and super totally ignored. Now brood on 8 frames and super still ignored.
There were 3 queen cups with an egg and a tiny amount of royal jelly. No other cells. Bees have no qualms about 'breaking the rules'. I've known them to go before a cell is sealed, but far more advanced than these. I think the exceptionally high temperature here in the South had something to do with it.
Once I sorted that lot out, I checked the colony with new queen, thinking that if she was laying I would mark her. 4 frames with open brood, all good. Hadn't seen her and was going to close-up when I thought I might as well check the 10th frame to see if she was there. She was, under a ball of workers. It looked just as if they were trying to finish her off. Watched for a few mins and then decided to check through to see if there was anything I'd missed - no other queen or queen cell. Went back to the 10th frame and bees still balling queen. Moved some workers out of the way and she was still alive. Left them to it and closed hive. Will see what I find on the next inspection!
Beekeeping is never dull................
I was sat in car for 5 mins to write records before inspecting the next colony, with my back to the hives. Stood up to find swarm in air. Thinking hives not in swarm mode, must be incoming. Watched, and they looked as if aiming to settle in hedge. 25mins later and they're all over the second of the smaller hives. Eventually they clustered under floor. Left them there while I opened the hive to check.......
The colony had swarmed with the clipped queen. There were no signs the previous inspection, 7 days ago, that they were intending to do anything, with brood across 6 frames and super totally ignored. Now brood on 8 frames and super still ignored.
There were 3 queen cups with an egg and a tiny amount of royal jelly. No other cells. Bees have no qualms about 'breaking the rules'. I've known them to go before a cell is sealed, but far more advanced than these. I think the exceptionally high temperature here in the South had something to do with it.
Once I sorted that lot out, I checked the colony with new queen, thinking that if she was laying I would mark her. 4 frames with open brood, all good. Hadn't seen her and was going to close-up when I thought I might as well check the 10th frame to see if she was there. She was, under a ball of workers. It looked just as if they were trying to finish her off. Watched for a few mins and then decided to check through to see if there was anything I'd missed - no other queen or queen cell. Went back to the 10th frame and bees still balling queen. Moved some workers out of the way and she was still alive. Left them to it and closed hive. Will see what I find on the next inspection!
Beekeeping is never dull................