What did you do in the Apiary today?

[G4WIL]

Oh no......that is so sad
Poor poor lady

PS....I'm so glad you're still around enjoying the forum antics. I still remember that gorgeous Samoyed of yours. Did you ever get another dog?

No ! Too old at 80 .
We would worry about the dog obviously bout living us .

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Apiarisnt]

Feels autumnal already -starting to keep an eye on sugar prices in early August !

85p for a 2kg bag at Morrisons is currently the best bet around here

 

[Beelzebub]

Where are you based? Jersey by any chance!!

Guernsey

 

[maddydog]

Checked 10 introduced queens - 9 spotted plus eggs, no eggs or q in the other.

Lots of balsam going in.

 

[Dadnlad]

85p for a 2kg bag at Morrisons is currently the best bet around here

Yep thats the lowest I've found too

 

[bjosephd]

Put a frame of eggs in a drone laying queenless nuc.

See if I can persuade them to raise a queen.

Once they look like they are (hopefully) interested in considering having a new queen (it might take a few frames) I'll raise a queen cell using another hive then put that one in when it's sealed.

Also put second dose of ApiGuard on two hives.

Got a couple of slightly limping hives... can't work out if it's queen issues, forage issues, robbing issues, or varroa issues. Maybe a bit of everything.

Will start feeding once treating is off.

BJD

 

[Erichalfbee]

Watched white dotted bees barging each other out of the way to get into the tree box. I do hope they get enough in to get them through the winter

 

[bjosephd]

Put a frame of eggs in a drone laying queenless nuc.

See if I can persuade them to raise a queen.

Once they look like they are (hopefully) interested in considering having a new queen (it might take a few frames) I'll raise a queen cell using another hive then put that one in when it's sealed.

Also put second dose of ApiGuard on two hives.

Got a couple of slightly limping hives... can't work out if it's queen issues, forage issues, robbing issues, or varroa issues. Maybe a bit of everything.

Will start feeding once treating is off.

BJD

Laying workers I mean. Obviously laying drones.

 

[Uncle Betty]

I had thought that laying workers considered themselves Q+, so will they draw out cells ?

 

[Erichalfbee]

They often do after a few sequential additions of brood; maybe three or four. the brood pheromone finally "switches off" the laying worker ovaries and they draw a queen cell. Waste of resources at this time of year?

 

[Uncle Betty]

Thanks E, that's interesting.

 

[bjosephd]

They often do after a few sequential additions of brood; maybe three or four. the brood pheromone finally "switches off" the laying worker ovaries and they draw a queen cell. Waste of resources at this time of year?

Yeah could be. Should probably just unite it.

 

[Angularity]

It seems to be a bad day to be a drone. All four of my hives are chucking them out, while the wasps are chopping them up and taking the bits away.

 

[bjosephd]

They often do after a few sequential additions of brood; maybe three or four. the brood pheromone finally "switches off" the laying worker ovaries and they draw a queen cell. Waste of resources at this time of year?

If they happen to take to queen raising on the first frame (unlikely) then I'll be tempted to queen them up with a properly raised queen cell. If they take some persuading then I might just unite.

Off to stick some apiguard on another now.

 

[B+.]

I'll be tempted to queen them up with a properly raised queen cell.

It's getting late for cells now.
I noticed workers showing quite a bit of aggession towards the drones this morning

 

[taurus]

I had a nuc being plagued by wasps at my out apiary. So I installed a new entrance block with just a single bee space width - 3 inches deep so it formed a tunnel.

The bees flew around outside looking confused and the wasps flew in and out without any bother.

So that didn't work too well.

 

[bjosephd]

It's getting late for cells now.

I noticed workers showing quite a bit of aggession towards the drones this morning

 

[Beefriendly]

It's getting late for cells now.
I noticed workers showing quite a bit of aggession towards the drones this morning

Still plenty of drone cells and drones around in my colonies uuup North. Seems to be a Southern thing where they pack in early.

 

[Hivemaker.]

Seems to be a Southern thing where they pack in early.

Plenty of drones here as well, so maybe a middle/easterly thing

 

[B+.]

Still plenty of drone cells and drones around in my colonies uuup North. Seems to be a Southern thing where they pack in early.

I have pure A.m.c. which are known for responding quickly to changes in nectar flows. They are storing lots of pollen, which is a good thing. They'll rocket away in the spring.
I live in a very agricultural area so there isn't much in flower here. They're finding pollen somewhere, but, not much else.
I went to collect drones for II so I sat next to the hive and watched the workers hustling the drones towards the entrance. They're still allowed back in, but, the dones aren't being allowed to stay hone with their feet up anymore.