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Managed to leave work early to get a good look at my bees yesterday. Hive one is my older queen and no QCs but plenty of stores. Hive two I found was not far off swarming as it had two very large capped Queen Cells and was also down on stores compared to the other hive. Very happy I had the...

I was expecting drone celle there and there is no foundation, they make their own mess there. To cull the drone you just cut out the wax and dispose - easy. The only thing I thought odd was how far these three cells were capped away from the comb itself. It may not be clear in the pics, but...

Quite right, it is a drone frame. As you can see they have build drone comb in the area I was going to cull, however after seeing these large cells I have left them as is. P

I saw these three large cells: Would you say these were just very large odd Drone Cells ? Paul

Thank you ! P

I removed 2 supers on Sunday and set them inside the house awaiting a borrowed honey extractor. At 4pm I was getting a little concerned as no extractor had arrived as promised and later found out that it had been damaged that morning and was awaiting a spare part due to arrive this week. My...

It was a blob of yellow paint. If she has lost it, that explains why I had not seen her until the weekend as I was looking for a big yellow splodge before.

So, I am a newbie beek for 2010. As you can imagine I am doing it all by the book and taking my time making sure I have checked for eggs each time I open the hive. For over a month I have not seen the marked queen, but have always seen eggs. This weekend I open the hive, note more eggs and...

I have a hive in the garden and am fortunate to have very docile bees apart from two. If you get close to the hive they buzz right around your head non-stop. If you walk away they follow. To prove a point, I walked up to the hive and then walked off with these two dive bombing my veil and...

This may also be a good article: http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/News/Media-office/Press-releases/2009/WTX054476.htm

BBSRC Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/ DEFRA Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs http://ww2.defra.gov.uk/ NERC Natural Environment Research Council http://www.nerc.ac.uk/ Scottish Government http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Home...

I saw it on the BBC news webpage this morning too: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/10362883.stm

I still like the idea of them nipping out for a quick smoke in the afternoon before returning to work. I will tell friends that is what they do if asked ;-)

Everyday around 4pm, I get a small cluster of bees come outside for a look-see ! They are addictive to sit and watch :)

I like that idea ! Personally that will be my new home for a while whilst I ask the daft questions ;-)

I did have a good look-see at my 'gound bees' and if you try to pick one up - they fly off ! I think they just like to walk once in a while :) Interesting about the OMF as I have that and it might be worth sliding in the inspection plate and brushing the cluster off in to a cup and placing...

I have the same, but Queen inside and I do have a landing board. Maybe they just like it there! I also notice about ten bees walking around on the floor. As this is in my garden I have to watch where I am walking so as not to squash any 'gound bees'.

Quick update as promised. Feeder removed, first inspection: Stores of syrup as expected but my goodness have they been busy. Lots of drawn comb and saw eggs and brood. Was really quite reassuring. Couple of play cups for good measure. They seemed very docile too which was reassuring to a...

Thanks Finman. I think it worth waiting to see what happens tomorrow when I open the hive for the first time. I should get a fair idea on how they are doing and also the amount of space that has been taken up with stores. For now, I think it is a case of watch this space...

Thanks for your comments. Feeder will come off on Saturday during the first inspection. Ironically I was told to feed them when I took the nuc. Like you say, it is probably not the syrup they need but some sunshine (don't we all want that in the summer). Fingers crossed for a warm, dry...