Hive Inspection: No Growth

[nmesmeric]

Hey Guys,

I received a nuc of bees in May, they filled out the brood box very quickly.

4 weeks ago I added a super (with no queen excluder). They haven't built out any of the super frames, i'm not sure why they are not expanding.

There are plenty of eggs/brood and honey in the brood box, but the growth of the hive appears pretty static. And as it is August, i thought they would be growing rapidly and wanting to use the super I have provided.

Does this sound ok? Should I be concerned?

Also, when should I reduce the size of the Hive entrance to make it more secure to wasps etc?

Thanks,

Felix

 

[Walrus]

I think it is because they are getting ready for winter and either don't need the space or don’t want to expend loads of energy building wax. Mine stop expanding sometime in July.

If you have wasps I would reduce the entrance now.

 

[enrico]

Don't worry, they will expand when they need to. They may not move up this year.
Add the reducer now. Won't do any harm and could do some good!
E

 

[Erichalfbee]

Reducer down to two bee spaces before you notice lots of wasps
Even my busiest colony is coping with that

 

[Hebeegeebee]

Hey Guys,

but the growth of the hive appears pretty static.

Yup, it's August.

Egg laying peaks around the end of June so max bee numbers is around the end of July. Bees will only draw wax when they need to, so if they don't need to go into the super, they won't.