What are we seeing here?

[Merk]

Hi,

We got our Nuc in July last year so didn't really have to consider swarming, this year we are on the lookout and noticed a couple of cells we wern't sure about and wondered if anyone had any thoughts on what we are seeing?

Pictures 1-3 Show cells that are a bit distended but seem to be pointing mostly horizontally. So I'm guessing these are just drone, they just looked a little bigger. 4-5 show what look like large cells that have either not been completed or torn open? The larvae look quite large. Finally 6 just showed a massive increasse in drone cells to what we saw last time. Is this normal for this time of year? Brood box appears quite full, we put a super on last week as we were concerned they needed more room for stores as most of the frames are brood.

Cheers


Mark

 

[masterBK]

Large cells are drone cells. However in first pic the downward projecting cell is a queen cup probably of no significance (unless charged). Queen cup also on bottom bar (near the middle) on slide 6.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

We got our Nuc in July last year so didn't really have to consider swarming, this year

who on earth told you that?

 

[E&MBees]

There is possibly one play cup at the bottom of the frame in the middle, photo 6. Might be worth checking for others, just in case.

 

[Boston Bees]

who on earth told you that?

Merk was talking about last year, not this year?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Merk was talking about last year, not this year?

I see now

 

[Merk]

Large cells are drone cells. However in first pic the downward projecting cell is a queen cup probably of no significance (unless charged). Queen cup also on bottom bar (near the middle) on slide 6.

It looked to be sealed from what I recall of the inspection, however we didnt even notice the cell on photo 6!! Thanks everyone who spotted this, we will recheck that asap.

 

[Antipodes]

It looked to be sealed from what I recall of the inspection, however we didnt even notice the cell on photo 6!! Thanks everyone who spotted this, we will recheck that asap.

Something to consider doing, with the situation you are describing, is "opening the brood nest"....
Scroll down this article for information on it.

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesswarmcontrol.htm

 

[gmonag]

Hi,

We got our Nuc in July last year so didn't really have to consider swarming....

My first nuc tried to swarm three weeks after installing it.

 

[Boston Bees]

My first nuc tried to swarm three weeks after installing it.

Did you get it in July?

 

[gmonag]

Did you get it in July?

May, so that probably had some bearing.

 

[Hachi]

Comb for just over a year old is starting to look a bit manky

 

[Hachi]

Did you confirm the Q is present?

Was there any eggs?

 

[ericbeaumont]

Is this normal for this time of year?

Yes.

Chances are that the frame shown was towards the edge of the brood nest, which is where you'd expect of find them. Drone is horizontal, queen cells are vertical.

PS: saw something more alarming: leather gloves. Try these instead. Leather may give you cast-iron confidence but they lead to clumsy inspections and squashed bees; if bees start stinging leather (it is, after all, made from animal) they won't stop. Washing is unsatisfactory.

Nitrile gloves (some prefer Marigolds, but make sure they fit tight) give direct and sensitive contact and transmission of disease between colonies can be limited by washing your gloved hands in a bucket of washing soda.

 

[ericbeaumont]

Brood box appears quite full, we put a super on last week as we were concerned they needed more room for stores as most of the frames are brood.

Bear in mind that at this time of year the queen must not run out of laying space and that giving a super (of drawn comb?) will not do that job.

More brood space is what is needed and that means another brood box, but don't just park another on top because they may not draw and use it straightaway and then may use it as a super. An alternative: take three or four frames of open brood and put them in the centre of the new top box. Condense the rest of the brood frames into the centre of the existing lower box. Fill either side of this elongated nest with comb or foundation.

By doing this the nest will stay together (so retaining nest warmth) the bees will expand sideways, both boxes will be used for brood, and swarming will be deterred.

A factor to consider is that in London the spring flow is over and until the end of the week it's colder and wet: what is the flow doing in Manchester? Not a lot? If so, give a syrup feed to enable wax production and to keep the queen laying. Don't overdo it, and as soon as the box is on the way to being drawn, discontinue feeding.