Essexgary
House Bee
- Joined
- May 17, 2010
- Messages
- 115
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- uk; bedfordshire
- Hive Type
- National
- Number of Hives
- 2
Hi All,
For those that are interested - here's a summary of my first day with the girls. For the more experienced amoung you, I hope it provokes some memories - for the newbee's perhaps it will give you some reassurance that you're not alone.
Probably best for me to split this in two - firstly the world through my eyes
went out first thing to see lots of activity and coming-and-going, all looked good. Then the previously mentioned 'dambuster' incident when I saw a bee fly overhead with a large cargo. The cargo was unceremoniously dropped at my feet in the garden and after inspection, it was a bewildered bee with shredded wings. Alarm bells. Looked in my books, posted a thread and started worrying about varroa. Suit on, I looked at the inspection tray - counted 3 mites. Not wanting to open up the hive for too long, I did - just to check the feeder, and take a quick look - all seemed normal, and no evidence of wing damage on other bees. then I noticed a few stragglers on the ground - maybe 4. one had shredded wings, one drone one having a fight with another one. By this time, I am convinced that the colony are all going to die of something or other. So I stand there most of the day (with the hive closed) observing and worrying about the stragglers. meanwhile regular foraging is continuing at a rapid pace. Then, 2 wasps show up - Oh Jeez - as if I haven't got enough to worry about (dying bees, 3 varroa mites, shredded wings...) the wasp guard is on the beehaus, so I'm now looking to make sure the new colony is defending properly - there seem to be more bees hovvering around the entrance which I think is good. I go and prepare a wasp trap of syrup and vinegar, but put too much vinegar in probably because even the wasps wont touch it. I squash a wasp then remember my school-boy science class about wasp-radar. Oh s**t within 5 minutes I'm expecting 20,000 wasps to come to the rescue. They dont arrive. By this time, hours have passed and I'm exhausted. Decide to go inside and have some chocolate cake (whilst looking through the kitchen window with binoculars).
Now, the day from the bees eyes. Nice and warm, lets go out for a spin around our new area, there are some dead/dying bees that we need to remove, probably from the journey the day before, one or two have shredded wings maybe from trying get out of the nuc-box, or foraging in Borrage which is where our old hive was. Why is this 6ft white lump always hanging around? a few dying bees at the entrance floor, trying to have a dignified last few moments - impossible, with the white 6ft lump bending over them and inspecting... pesky wasps - don't worry, we've been dealing with wasps for 20million years - today's no different. Right girls, hang around the entrance and try and get rid of them.. whats that stink of vinegar? Yawn, lets go to bed. Night.
So, 9pm last night. All's quiet - they are tucked up in bed, I see a dying wasp on the floor (go girls!) - and I go back in the house. I feel embarrassed and guilty for worrying so much. and even worse, I'm now sitting at my desk at work with an un-ironed shirt, my normal Sunday task. So lesson 1 well and truly learned - leave them be and stop worrying!
That said, I plan to break from feeding in about 2 weeks, treat with Apiguard, and keep an eye on the wings and wasps...
Gary
For those that are interested - here's a summary of my first day with the girls. For the more experienced amoung you, I hope it provokes some memories - for the newbee's perhaps it will give you some reassurance that you're not alone.
Probably best for me to split this in two - firstly the world through my eyes
went out first thing to see lots of activity and coming-and-going, all looked good. Then the previously mentioned 'dambuster' incident when I saw a bee fly overhead with a large cargo. The cargo was unceremoniously dropped at my feet in the garden and after inspection, it was a bewildered bee with shredded wings. Alarm bells. Looked in my books, posted a thread and started worrying about varroa. Suit on, I looked at the inspection tray - counted 3 mites. Not wanting to open up the hive for too long, I did - just to check the feeder, and take a quick look - all seemed normal, and no evidence of wing damage on other bees. then I noticed a few stragglers on the ground - maybe 4. one had shredded wings, one drone one having a fight with another one. By this time, I am convinced that the colony are all going to die of something or other. So I stand there most of the day (with the hive closed) observing and worrying about the stragglers. meanwhile regular foraging is continuing at a rapid pace. Then, 2 wasps show up - Oh Jeez - as if I haven't got enough to worry about (dying bees, 3 varroa mites, shredded wings...) the wasp guard is on the beehaus, so I'm now looking to make sure the new colony is defending properly - there seem to be more bees hovvering around the entrance which I think is good. I go and prepare a wasp trap of syrup and vinegar, but put too much vinegar in probably because even the wasps wont touch it. I squash a wasp then remember my school-boy science class about wasp-radar. Oh s**t within 5 minutes I'm expecting 20,000 wasps to come to the rescue. They dont arrive. By this time, hours have passed and I'm exhausted. Decide to go inside and have some chocolate cake (whilst looking through the kitchen window with binoculars).
Now, the day from the bees eyes. Nice and warm, lets go out for a spin around our new area, there are some dead/dying bees that we need to remove, probably from the journey the day before, one or two have shredded wings maybe from trying get out of the nuc-box, or foraging in Borrage which is where our old hive was. Why is this 6ft white lump always hanging around? a few dying bees at the entrance floor, trying to have a dignified last few moments - impossible, with the white 6ft lump bending over them and inspecting... pesky wasps - don't worry, we've been dealing with wasps for 20million years - today's no different. Right girls, hang around the entrance and try and get rid of them.. whats that stink of vinegar? Yawn, lets go to bed. Night.
So, 9pm last night. All's quiet - they are tucked up in bed, I see a dying wasp on the floor (go girls!) - and I go back in the house. I feel embarrassed and guilty for worrying so much. and even worse, I'm now sitting at my desk at work with an un-ironed shirt, my normal Sunday task. So lesson 1 well and truly learned - leave them be and stop worrying!
That said, I plan to break from feeding in about 2 weeks, treat with Apiguard, and keep an eye on the wings and wasps...
Gary
