Recent content by Stephibee

Thank you all for your replies. I will contact an SBI tomorrow and head back to the hive to toothpick test.

None of them looked melted, mostly blackish, rotten.

What's that?

Update: For all of you who knew from day one that these were laying workers, well done! Unfortunately there is no shadow of a doubt. Does anyone know if this (attached) is evidence of too little workers, that can't keep up with house keeping or if something more sinister is going on? Found a...

So odd isn't it?? I wonder why they started laying so quickly! Gorgeous photo 😊

What happens if it doesn't work? Do they split back off, or will they kill the other hives queen?

Terrible news :( Thanks everyone. I'll try and merge them with one of my other hives. Does anyone know why some of the brood comb is flat? Just wondering out of interest.

Update: Went in today and a lot of drone comb but what appears to be some capped workers? Almost all the eggs are now singlular, the occasional duo could still be found. 1 supercedure cell and 1 playcup/beginning of a second supercedure cell. My plan is to leave them with ample sugar syrup and...

That's what I fear 🙁🙁

Yes, I could only see eggs in one but it contained 3.

The following day a number of bees were back at the bin. A local experienced bee keeper told me they were not the same, but a cast from another swarm. I am unsure of this coincidence but any who, scooped up the bees into a second nuc and placed it near the first. The second swarm absconded and...

Thank you for your knowledge and advice. I really appreciate it!

Sorry I should have taken more pictures, this was the last frame with any comb and that's when I got the camera out. They have fully drawn 1 frame, both sides, and have 2 frames like this one. They have pollen and honey on the other frames. Nothing has been capped. They are in a nuc and active...

Thanks for your reply. Which cells are not normal form? I should mention there is another frame with both sides drawn out well. They are collecting pollen and honey which can be seen on other frames. It was a very large swarm but the collection was difficult and some bees did not make it (they...

Thanks, that makes a lot of sense. The swarm was huge so I was (at the time of collecting, now I'm questioning myself) quite sure that it was a prime. Thank you!