Open Air colonies

[abm]

Both these 2 open air colonies were within 2 miles of each other 2 months apart.

Your thoughts, as this is only my third experience with these.

 

[Swarm]

Beautiful. Gorgeous combs.
Lovely queen in the second pic, too.

 

[bobthecob]

Absolutely stunning.

Lovely queen in the second pic, too.

Where is she? I can see drones but not her majesty, and it's annoying me now

 

[bobthecob]

Your thoughts

Not sure what thoughts you want exactly, but my first one was "could this possibly survive winter?" Don't know. Can't believe it would.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Beautiful. Gorgeous combs.
Lovely queen in the second pic, too.

Don't tell anybody Steve.
It's a good spot-the-queen photo

 

[understanding_bees]

Not sure what thoughts you want exactly, but my first one was "could this possibly survive winter?" Don't know. Can't believe it would.

"could this possibly survive winter?" - I would doubt it, but on the other hand it appears that they must be quite hardy. Would they possibly have some genetic qualities that would make me desire to have them in my hive?

 

[Erichalfbee]

"could this possibly survive winter?" - I would doubt it, but on the other hand it appears that they must be quite hardy. Would they possibly have some genetic qualities that would make me desire to have them in my hive?

Maybe they just got lucky and didn't get rained on.
In summer 2018 my part of West Wales got no rain for nearly three months......unheard of. The rest of the country sizzled in prolonged heat too

 

[Finman]

Both these 2 open air

The first hive has no brood in combs.

 

[E&MBees]

Don't tell anybody Steve.
It's a good spot-the-queen photo

Found her! It’s just like those Where’s Wally pictures.

 

[drdrday]

Grr, gonna have to look on a big screen now to try to find her

 

[bingevader]

Lovely pics!

Beautiful. Gorgeous combs.
Lovely queen in the second pic, too.

Took a little while to spot her.

Maybe they just got lucky and didn't get rained on.

Or the wind here today.
My thoughts: As you have done, straight in a nuc. Maybe they stopped out longer than expected and had a very productive queen who'd begun laying in the meantime?

 

[gmonag]

Totally spotted her straight away!

 

[Swarm]

Remember the colony in a tree that was 'rescued' in something like November/December?. I would have preferred if they were left alone and observed instead.
I've seen open comb colonies but they were in in a cavity or shelter of some kind, under the zinc roof of a Dutch barn and the cavity created by a fallen tree.

 

[GuyNir]

Lovely queen in the second pic, too.

Nice one Steve

Makes me wonder, should we have a thread dedicated to spotting the Q?

 

[Erichalfbee]

Nice one Steve

Makes me wonder, should we have a thread dedicated to spotting the Q?

Yes we could if anybody else has some decent pictures. Start one and I’ll add this one.

 

[GuyNir]

Yes we could if anybody else has some decent pictures. Start one and I’ll add this one.

Done. Let’s see how it goes...

 

[Finman]

I did not sen any queen.

 

[drdrday]

I did not sen any queen.

Thank goodness, Finman, cos I can't either! I think they're having us on

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

What do you mean queen (singular)

 

[Erichalfbee]

What do you mean queen (singular)

Well I can’t see ANY either.