bees flying today

[sjt]

Mine are really busy too. Temp is 11C and there's lots of bobbing about in front of the hive. I was a bit concerned until I read about everyone else's bees today (my first year of bee-keeping)

 

[drstitson]

well it was damp, overcast and drizzly in Lincs first thing this am. Nothing stirring.

If today (21st) really is the first "warm" day with active pollen gathering then it's looking like a tight window of opportunity this year between say 30th and 1st before first new brood capped and just after last emerged.

NB Presume an off-lay queen takes a day or more to start again once appropriate stimuli present?

anyone have any thoughts on the idea that first bit of brood actually acts as a varroa trap - enticing in too many mites to lethal end.

 

[Gardenbees]

I'm not sure whether any late brood would really trap varroa, as, if the mildness continues, the little blighters could well survive the winter to really hammer the colony in spring.

Mine were so busy at lunchtime that I left it until just now to heft the hives. To my surprise they're still out (nearly 4.00 and starting to get darker). They are VERY defensive at the moment, both hives. Unusual for them. They didn't actually sting me, but I was pinged quite fiercely when I lifted each hive. Both hives seem very heavy. Surely they can't still be finding that much useable nectar? I dunno. Perhaps they can; several spring flowers seem to be out at the moment.

 

[drstitson]

"I'm not sure whether any late brood would really trap varroa"

I didn't say late brood. I said early brood.

i've seen argument used re varroa control when making up nucs with queen cells - after the gap between last brood emerges and new queen makes tentative first depositions the "desperate" mites all dive in to first brood they detect and essentially commit suicide.

 

[rockdoc]

Yep, dito for the far south east here. My bees in Broadstairs are very active today, no pollen and I bet the stores are getting a good hit!

 

[luckydunny]

12 degrees and all three hives busy, one very much so. Saw a mouse nearby hive so pleased to have guards on. Also put woodpecker mesh on but was taken aback by how much activity there was on shortest day of year!!!
Being a newbee never seen anything like it!!!!!!!!

 

[drstitson]

Here's my october swarm all nicely tucked up just before i whipped off the polycarbonate CB and gave them a slab of fondant in an eke. (NB drips of water are on top of the CB).

 

[rink123]

My bees were out in force today too although couldn't see them bringing any thing back in, most just flew round in circle and sunning themselves. I need to treat with OA is it too warm should I wait for the cold again?

 

[drstitson]

"I need to treat with OA is it too warm should I wait for the cold again?"

you need to wait for at least 3 weeks AFTER the cold spell finally hit - but then bear in mind lengthening days, mild weather and potentially pollen coming in.

For what it's worth i'd aim for new years day (if capable).

 

[Hombre]

Night owl says going to Tesco at Dudley at 4am 6 degrees Cellcius and coming back an hour later, at 5.10am, 7 Decrees Celcius

Flying when I looked at 2.30pm.

 

[keith pierce]

lifted a few roofs at about 7 this evening and was suprised to see heaps of bees up feeding in the fondant bags

 

[richardbees]

12c at 3pm here and bees all over the place......

....we had a -2c frost on the 9th so I'd decided to do OA treatment on the 30th but if the weather's like today there won't be any bees in the 'seams' to drip it on!

 

[Russel]

Same here too and lots of house keeping as well, loads of bee corpes and wax on ground under hives

 

[countryman]

come home from work tonight and the temp gauge was reading 11c in portsmouth and 9c the other side of the hill and that was at 2230 tonight after i got back from apiary this morning, bees on garage roof out in force bringing loads of pollen , splattered car with drop offs had to get scraper out to clear it before going to work

 

[drstitson]

"if the weather's like today there won't be any bees in the 'seams' to drip it on!"

then do it dawn or dusk.

 

[Skyhook]

"I need to treat with OA is it too warm should I wait for the cold again?"

you need to wait for at least 3 weeks AFTER the cold spell finally hit - but then bear in mind lengthening days, mild weather and potentially pollen coming in.

For what it's worth i'd aim for new years day (if capable).

My thinking is- even if it's not ideal conditions after Christmas (ie if I suspoect there's brood) there isn't going to be a better opportunity to treat, so treat anyway, but monitor and be ready to take further action in spring.

 

[Suzi Q]

Yesterday was the first time, being a newbee, I'd seen bee's in the winter doing cleansing flights and housekeeping! There were streaky bits of yellowish poo on the roof, hope that's normal.

 

[BobsBees]

Not only that dpearce4....
If this weather continues, will the original eggs laid up last month (who are out flying probably) last through a severe cold snap in Jan/Feb or maybe just die out.
I have already seen lots of formed larvae dragged out onto the landing stage.
This could be due to two or more reasons.
1. Not enough bees already to maintain the cluster Temperature.
2. Varroa still active because of the extended season.
Everyone needs to make sure the entrance is cleared of bodies behind the mouse guard, also that the hive is tilted forwards to just help them that little bit.
Bob.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

All three hives buzzing busy today - not much evidence of pollen though.
My honeysuckle is flowering again!

 

[drstitson]

"Not enough bees already to maintain the cluster Temperature"

cluster (internal) temperature is NOT the same as that required for brood raising.

So...Perfectly reasonable for bees to have been caught out by the cold finally hitting 10-14 days ago after a prolonged mild period. Brood will have died irrespective of bee numbers once formal tight(ish) clustering began.

any that were laid up and made it through to emergence in late nov/early dec will be adding to the winter/nurse bee pool. No more likely to succumb than any other winter bees during jan/feb.