Jimy Dee
House Bee
- Joined
- Mar 2, 2014
- Messages
- 270
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- Ireland
- Hive Type
- Commercial
- Number of Hives
- 6
The briar/bramble finished in my locality this summer and I noticed there was practically a complete dearth of forage thereafter until the ivy started, at least a 4 to 5 week gap.
I had a double nuc which I wanted to move into a full commercial hive prior to the winter. A few days into the ivy flow I undertook this job and to my disgust there was no brood in any stage of development, it was totally devoid of eggs, larvae and brood. I just could not believe that this hive was queenless because it was the most active, vigorous and hard working hive in my apiary.
Now this was a 2014 queen/nuc created early in the summer and I did not open it for at least 3 months so there is no way the mis-handling had killed the queen. I had read that AMM queens can be very responsive to the flows of nectar and accordingly can turn laying on and off as needs be – I hoped this is what had happened – a full stop to laying post the briar nectar flow.
I did nothing and left the hive alone until last week (a good 2+ weeks into the ivy flow) and when I went through this hive I came across 2 frames full of brood. My 2014 AMM queen was present, doing her duty.
It is my opinion that she did stop laying after the briar flow and she did return to lay in light of the wonderful ivy flow we all seem to be benefiting from.
Now before the righteous get going saying their strain of bees are better than the next or that I am an AMM fanatic, let me get one thing clear, I don’t care if your bees are half bred with wasps, nor am I here to argue that AMM bees are the best thing since sliced pan. This bitching does not interest me so please don’t post such rubbish in replies hereto. I am simply writing this thread for the benefit of fellow beeks and to let them know how my AMM managed her laying regime in the last month or two.
Wishing you all the best and hives full of ivy winter stores (and for those thinking of removing the ivy, for god sake let the bees keep the ivy honey!)
I had a double nuc which I wanted to move into a full commercial hive prior to the winter. A few days into the ivy flow I undertook this job and to my disgust there was no brood in any stage of development, it was totally devoid of eggs, larvae and brood. I just could not believe that this hive was queenless because it was the most active, vigorous and hard working hive in my apiary.
Now this was a 2014 queen/nuc created early in the summer and I did not open it for at least 3 months so there is no way the mis-handling had killed the queen. I had read that AMM queens can be very responsive to the flows of nectar and accordingly can turn laying on and off as needs be – I hoped this is what had happened – a full stop to laying post the briar nectar flow.
I did nothing and left the hive alone until last week (a good 2+ weeks into the ivy flow) and when I went through this hive I came across 2 frames full of brood. My 2014 AMM queen was present, doing her duty.
It is my opinion that she did stop laying after the briar flow and she did return to lay in light of the wonderful ivy flow we all seem to be benefiting from.
Now before the righteous get going saying their strain of bees are better than the next or that I am an AMM fanatic, let me get one thing clear, I don’t care if your bees are half bred with wasps, nor am I here to argue that AMM bees are the best thing since sliced pan. This bitching does not interest me so please don’t post such rubbish in replies hereto. I am simply writing this thread for the benefit of fellow beeks and to let them know how my AMM managed her laying regime in the last month or two.
Wishing you all the best and hives full of ivy winter stores (and for those thinking of removing the ivy, for god sake let the bees keep the ivy honey!)
