What did you do in the Apiary today?

[BugsInABox]

Bees were just ignoring it.

Looks like a Bumble that your bees killed, they usually end up looking black and hairless.

She was alive. I lifted her out for the second photo. Then put her back.

 

[Erichalfbee]

She was alive. I lifted her out for the second photo. Then put her back.

You can see that she is quite hairy.

 

[Moobee]

Look at this little tinker hiding under the insulation picking off my bees!!!

Urgh! False widow, we’ve got loads here. They can give you a nasty bite.

 

[elainemary]

Panic this morning as I walked down the path I thought a hive was upturned, when I got closer I realised the insulation had fallen on the floor, we took it off yesterday to replace the mouse guards with blocks, what a relief!! It's it time to remove the insulation yet or leave it in for a bit longer?

I keep my insulation on all year round, reckon keeps hive cooler in summer when sun beating down on metal roof. Helps on cool nights

 

[BugsInABox]

It looks like a female Hairy Footed Flower Bee (Anthophora plumipes)

She was a bit bigger than these are described as more like 2.4cm. I’m thinking Bombus ruderatus.
Seems they are a bit less common up north though.
In Oxfordshire however the rarer black sub species has been found.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-oxfordshire-23705082

 

[Arfermo]

Did nuthin as usual.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

In Oxfordshire however the rarer black sub species has been found.

was it hiding way up in a tree in an ancient untouched woodland yards away from any other human habitation by any chance?

 

[BugsInABox]

was it hiding way up in a tree in an ancient untouched woodland yards away from any other human habitation by any chance?

I do have a humid valley!

 

[gregior]

First inspections on 8 of mine today. All looking fantastic with a couple on 3 frames BIAS but the other 6 colonies on around 8 or 9 frames BIAS with looks of drone brood too! All laying patterns look really nice and lots of fresh nectar and pollen in them all so if the cold does arrive next week as promised they will have plenty of resources to keep them going. Took a few honey frames out and replaced with empty dawn combs to give the Q's room to lay.

 

[Nannysbees]

I keep my insulation on all year round, reckon keeps hive cooler in summer when sun beating down on metal roof. Helps on cool nights

Oh right thank you for that advice, never thought about leaving it on

 

[E&MBees]

Checked on the girls. All doing really well. 5-6 frames of bias inc sealed drone brood. Removed some excess stores and swapped in some drawn empty frames. 19c today, 9c next week. Told them not to put their scarves away yet!

 

[Somerford]

Over the past week I’ve dismantled a barn and transported it to my main base to be built over Easter hopefully..30’x9’x11’. It’s nothing much to look at but the steel cladding alone was worth the price at auction.

Also have 200 fencing stakes to creosote prior to repairing some fences when I can..

Stuck my head inside 20 hives the other evening - all building nicely and QX and first super on.

Although the weather is due to chill a bit next week the longer range looks good - best do a blog update before I get too busy !

kr
S

 

[Wilco]

Stuck my head inside 20 hives the other evening - all building nicely and QX and first super on.

Sounds uncomfortable.

 

[CaptainCymru]

Put up 4 swarm traps around the one hive in the corner ! None shall pass !

 

[Erichalfbee]

Oh right thank you for that advice, never thought about leaving it on

All but my spare roofs are poly for that reason. Wooden ones have insulation glued inside

 

[elainemary]

Decided to move the nadired super up above the BB and check the stores in 2 colonies - my heaviest and lightest. Both completely fine, not too much stores or too little; room for the queen to lay. Left it at that and moved the nadired super up. Both v nicely cleaned out, queen not in either, small patches of heather honey left in a few frames so I scored and they’ll use next week when temperature drops

Both floors were very clean. The WBC floor has a smaller OMF than a national so I look at the woodwork and edges to see how good the bees at undertaking. I leave the slider on too to see if / what debris / cappings drops through and to look for any mites at this time of year. Overall gives me an indication what’s going on and whether they may be more hygienic, which I can then test further.
Currently I’m focusing on general hygienic behaviour as I understand there’s a lot more to checking for varroa sensitive hygiene.

I remember in my first year of beekeeping I had a lot of dead bees on the floor in the early spring and it was positioned on my beginners course to expect this and it’s normal. Now know this is wrong and not a good thing. I’d like to think improvements in my husbandry and focus on my queens and records, means my spring floors tend to be very clean. No dead bees or larger debris means I can save time and I don’t need to scrape or bother changing the floor. Leaving more time to watch the entrances and enjoy observing their behaviour

 

[Erichalfbee]

Most of my UFE are half solid half mesh. I find that there are fewer bees when the weather has been mild enough for the bodies to be removed. It has been this winter. Floors are pretty devoid of anything really.

 

[masterBK]

Saw a bee-fly (Bombylius major) working some grape hyacinths in my bee garden today. Enormous proboscis for such a small insect. Rushed into house to get camera but too late as it had flown off by time I got back. Will keep the camera handy and hopefuly it will come back and will post pic if I get one. The larvae of this species lives in the nest of some solitary bees and wasps and is parasitic on their offspring

For those interested go to
Cute and fluffy: meet the bee-flies - Discover Wildlife

 

[Nannysbees]

Saw a bee-fly (Bombylius major) working some grape hyacinths in my bee garden today. Enormous proboscis for such a small insect. Rushed into house to get camera but too late as it had flown off by time I got back. Will keep the camera handy and hopefuly it will come back and will post pic if I get one. The larvae of this species lives in the nest of some solitary bees and wasps and is parasitic on their offspring

For those interested go to
Cute and fluffy: meet the bee-flies - Discover Wildlife

Haven't seen one of those, as yet!!

 

[Erichalfbee]

Haven't seen one of those, as yet!!

Cute and parasitic