They were not here a week ago

[drex]

I hope the picture has uploaded.
This colony was not here a week ago, I am sure.
I was at my out apiary cleaning up supers and before I left thought I would have a quick look round. This colony has built the comb under the overhang on the outside of my TBH. The colony inside the TBH died off last year, so I cleaned out the comb and sealed it up, and have not got round to restocking.
They do look well established, but I am sure they were not there last week. I had no time to do anything, except to put a board over the top to protect them from the rain. Hopefully it will be dry tomorrow and I can put them inside the TBH. A swarm at the end of September!

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

By the colour of the comb I'd say it's been through at least one brood cycle

 

[Swarm]

Been there quite a while.

 

[drex]

Just what I thought, but at this time of year I do still have a look round once a week, and I do not think they were there then, but could not swear to it. Getting more absent minded as the years pass! Will sort them out tomorrow, probably putting inside the TBH, tying or clipping them on to top bars. Been such a good year I have not had to feed any colonies, but will give them some to settle in to new home.

 

[Millet]

Bees never fail to amaze me.

 

[Amari]

Great picture Drex. Keep us informed

 

[Fatbee]

A friend found similar on top of a fence post. Been well protected by bramble cover. 7 drawn frames. Guy who went and removed them though said hardly any stores so you may have to feed them really hard.

 

[REDWOOD]

I chuckled when I read the title to this thread it sounds like a title to a sci-fi movie


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[Finman]

.
Quite a small colony.

That nest has not dropped from heaven a week ago.
.
.

 

[REDWOOD]

Desperate for a poly nuc


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[Finman]

.
It is better to put them into ready frames to be fed. Couple of frames are enough.

.one way is to take ready capped combs and shake the bees in front of that nuc.

 

[pargyle]

Desperate for a poly nuc


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Yes ... that's what I would do and feed them like mad - not much in the way of stores in those combs. If you have some spare drawn frames I would give them to them so they can just store the syrup as they will find it hard to draw comb at this time of the year - even with feeding.

 

[pargyle]

.
It is better to put them into ready frames to be fed. Couple of frames are enough.

.one way is to take ready capped combs and shake the bees in front of that nuc.

Good advice Finnie ...

 

[REDWOOD]

The bees will definitely thank you with cooler days to come


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[For want of a better word]

Just what I thought, but at this time of year I do still have a look round once a week, and I do not think they were there then, but could not swear to it. Getting more absent minded as the years pass! Will sort them out tomorrow, probably putting inside the TBH, tying or clipping them on to top bars. Been such a good year I have not had to feed any colonies, but will give them some to settle in to new home.

You should have gone to Specsavers!

Had a "late" swarm of yellow stripeys move into a stack of empty polly boxes... was a bit of a shock when I found bees in it.... particularly when comb was attached to polly roof... have left them to it, plenty of ivy about... probably one of those absconding LASI queens!!!

Yeghes da

 

[drex]

I cut out the combs today and using elastic bands fixed them into empty national brood frames in a poly nuc. A fair bit of honey in the combs, but no brood whatsoever, and no sign that there had ever been any. Makes me think they have appeared in the last week. Did not see a queen, but did not search for her.
As I was cutting out the comb I found that there was a small hole into the TBH. So I thought a colony had moved in there in the summer, had run out of space and so was building outside. However the TBH had only a few bees wandering around, and they had built no comb in there.
So, it appears this lot was a late swarm, that chose to build out in the open ( I still have bait hives out, as have not got round to putting them away yet). Is there a queen waiting to come into lay? Had she not laid any eggs as it was too exposed?
I filled the feeder up with thick syrup and will have a look again in a week. May end up uniting them.
All other hives still busy, presumably on the ivy.

 

[Finman]

.
If the bees arrived a week ago, their combs have been there a long time. They have had there perhaps two brood cyckles. Look the brown color.

 

[drex]

I know the comb is stained, but the cell walls were all very thin like honey super comb. No trace of cocoon from pupae.

 

[Hivemaker.]

I rekon they have only been there for a week or even less, maybe only three days.

 

[Finman]

I rekon they have only been there for a week or even less, maybe only three days.

Yeah. That size colony has made so much combs in 3 days.
Whete are the rest bees?