peteinwilts
Drone Bee
- Joined
- May 12, 2009
- Messages
- 1,763
- Reaction score
- 34
- Location
- North Wilts
- Hive Type
- National
- Number of Hives
- Lots and lots
Hi Guys
I have a hive on a field of rape which I have not been able to visit for two weeks due to the cold weather.
I have looked at the outside of the hive a couple of times only to see no more than one or two bees flying.
Today was a different story with dozens hitting the landing board every second.
The first thing I noticed, is they were ignoring the super and was concentrating filling up the brood box at one end. By the time I got to the 3rd frame there was a capped queen cell which I detroyed.
The forth frame had 6 queen cells, most capped with one that looked ripped open.
As I progressively went through the hive, I destroyed approximately 50 queen cells, found a queen hatching and found another scuttling across the top of a frame away from the cluster.
Male intuition suggests they are trying to tell me something!
As there is no honey in the super, I popped the new queen on top of the QX for temporary safe keeping.
So far I have not found her original ladyship, but with the number of bees in the hive I can't believe they have swarmed already...
I think I am going to try have to try an artificial swarm.
My main question is to do with swarm boxes. I would like to set up a couple of swarm boxes to try and catch a swarm if one gets away. When swarming on a field of rape, how far away would be good places for swarm boxes. With so many natural places, I am going to have to make them very appitising!
Cheers
Pete
I have a hive on a field of rape which I have not been able to visit for two weeks due to the cold weather.
I have looked at the outside of the hive a couple of times only to see no more than one or two bees flying.
Today was a different story with dozens hitting the landing board every second.
The first thing I noticed, is they were ignoring the super and was concentrating filling up the brood box at one end. By the time I got to the 3rd frame there was a capped queen cell which I detroyed.
The forth frame had 6 queen cells, most capped with one that looked ripped open.
As I progressively went through the hive, I destroyed approximately 50 queen cells, found a queen hatching and found another scuttling across the top of a frame away from the cluster.
Male intuition suggests they are trying to tell me something!
As there is no honey in the super, I popped the new queen on top of the QX for temporary safe keeping.
So far I have not found her original ladyship, but with the number of bees in the hive I can't believe they have swarmed already...
I think I am going to try have to try an artificial swarm.
My main question is to do with swarm boxes. I would like to set up a couple of swarm boxes to try and catch a swarm if one gets away. When swarming on a field of rape, how far away would be good places for swarm boxes. With so many natural places, I am going to have to make them very appitising!
Cheers
Pete