What did you do in the Apiary today?

[jenkinsbrynmair]

subdued Is what I find

 

[user 3509]

Well, it's been a bit of a morning.

I decided to inspect the two hives that I moved over the winter from one side of my house to the other. That seemed to go pretty well at the time. Both of the hives have a fair bit of activity at the entrance today, guards are on duty and pollen is being brought in.

When I took the roof off the first hive it was clear that there were quite a few bees inside -- enough to cover at least ten frames (in a double brood), but it took me a while to get in as they'd propolised the first dummy board to the walls and built brace comb against it. Perhaps I didn't put it in perfectly last time. When I eventually got it loose and inspected the combs there was obviously quite a bit of pollen and honey still present, but absolutely no brood whatsoever I couldn't find the queen, but the bees were quite calm. Far more so than I'd expect them to be if she wasn't there. The other major thing I noticed was that they'd propolised up about half of the OMF.

The fact that there's plenty of pollen being brought in suggests to me that there's still a group of bees there that think they're a viable colony. I don't see any of the classic signs of robbing from the outside and to be honest given that the bees have been flying for a few weeks now if it were being heavily robbed I'd expect most of the honey to have gone by now rather than still being sealed. In fact I've had expected a huge amount of robbing to be obvious just from the outside when the weather was very warm a few weeks back.

I'd like to suggest that the cause is a failed queen, particularly as I found a couple of empty queen cups, but what gives me doubts is that the second hive is exactly the same: plenty of stores, lots of bees, guards at the entrance, pollen being brought in, but no brood. I probably have to face the fact that I've done something in the course of the move or earlier that has resulted in this situation though at the moment I can't think what. One colony perhaps having a late supercedure last year and failing to get the queen mated properly might not be a surprise given that the tail end of the summer was quite depressing here weather-wise. To have two in the first two colonies I inspected just seems like too much of a coincidence.

For now I'm not sure what to do, nor even if there's anything I can do. If I pinched a frame of eggs from another colony they might be able to raise a new queen (though I have strong doubts given that they're probably all "winter" bees), but would she then stand a chance of getting mated in early May? Not convinced.

Bit of a depressing start, really. Not entirely sure I feel like opening any more hives up for the time being.

James

Had the very same thing happen with 4 of our colonies. Never lost so many colonies before. It is very strange as the bees are acting as though they are queen right but there is just no sign of a queen, eggs or brood. A depressing start to the season.

 

[elainemary]

It's always possible I somehow missed some, but I don't think so. It could be that she's stopped laying because of the cold I guess. Good idea that I'd not thought of. Particularly as I've just looked at another that seems to be the same. This one was a bit of a mess though as it's a swarm that moved into pair of stacked brood boxes with used empty frames in last year and didn't have the decency to line their comb up with the frames so I can't really be sure. I had a few guard bees gently bumping my veil with this one and again they're bringing in pollen, so it also looks like they also still think they're a viable colony.

I wanted to change some of the comb in these hives anyhow. As an alternative to leaving them for a week I'm half-tempted to put a new bottom box on, shake the bees into it and fill it with foundation, then put another box on top with some of the combs of stores and some of the empty combs and leave it to see what happens. That half feels like fiddling with stuff for the sake of something to do, but if there were brood I'd be looking to do pretty much the same about now anyhow and if the queen does suddenly start laying again the evidence will be easy to find.

James

James unfortunately fear the comb won’t get drawn if no queen or prospect of a laying one. Think they need a higher ‘purpose’ to draw comb.
Really sorry to hear your story

 

[JamezF]

James unfortunately fear the comb won’t get drawn if no queen or prospect of a laying one. Think they need a higher ‘purpose’ to draw comb.
Really sorry to hear your story

Oh, I agree, but it would be a clear indicator one way or the other and once I know I can decide how to proceed from there.

James

 

[Antipodes]

Quite possibly, yes. My experience though is that whilst the scrag end of a queenless colony doesn't put up much of a fight, they are quite ill-tempered when there are lots who are queenless and these were really quite calm. I don't know if that's generally the case though. I've not had to deal with that many queenless colonies really.

James

Any signs of a laying worker/s yet? Have a really careful look at the most likely (normally the middle) brood frame with a magnifying glass. Actually, initially look intently on that frame for the queen (nothing else) before moving the bees from it and taking it into the sun with the magnifying glass to look for eggs.

 

[JamezF]

I'll try to have another check tomorrow if there's time, though my plan is to visit my other apiary. How I miss the days when my eyesight was good enough to spot eggs without any artificial assistance. Wearing glasses is no fun when you're sweating in the sunshine.

James

 

[Antipodes]

[

I'll try to have another check tomorrow if there's time, though my plan is to visit my other apiary. How I miss the days when my eyesight was good enough to spot eggs without any artificial assistance. Wearing glasses is no fun when you're sweating in the sunshine.

James

I have a magnifying glass that can fit into my bee suit pocket, but I think I need an even larger magnifying glass sometimes!

 

[Curly green finger's]

You've confused me (not hard)

The queen has laid in your supers (normal), so you have split the brood nest with comb (fair enough), but where does the newspaper come into this?

Two supers over newspaper and qx because of the flow, but only left a slit so they don't feel like they have to much space.

 

[elainemary]

United a couple of Nucs on the edge of a friends garden (not happy with one of the queens). As well as uniting over newspaper this evening, I’ve added a 3rd extension box with a mix of foundation (2) and good drawn comb (4). I should be able to carry 6 brood frames or less of stores after the spring flow. Not an easy site but good for over wintering. Will go into a polyhive soon as not sure I can go higher safely!!

I’m itching to try out the new swing cage extractor that will take brood frames, i sourced for our association, during winter

 

[Boston Bees]

Two supers over newspaper and qx because of the flow, but only left a slit so they don't feel like they have to much space.

No, you've still lost me.

Are you combining this colony with another one? You didn't say so, but if not, why the newspaper?

Does anyone else understand? I'm sure it's just me.

 

[Boston Bees]

Will go into a polyhive soon as not sure I can go higher safely!!

I've got a Maisemore nuc 4 high at the moment. But it's on a rock-steady stand

 

[Nannysbees]

Inspected four hives today, weather glorious. Only found one queen but all four have eggs. Hope this weather continues

 

[JamezF]

Inspected four hives today, weather glorious. Only found one queen but all four have eggs. Hope this weather continues

I'm enjoying it too, but equally I can't help feeling that it's not really what this month is about. April showers and what not, but I'm having to water the veggie plot because there's been so little rain recently.

James

 

[Nannysbees]

I'm enjoying it too, but equally I can't help feeling that it's not really what this month is about. April showers and what not, but I'm having to water the veggie plot because there's been so little rain recently.

James

I know I'm watering as well, one of the water butt's empty!!

 

[Antipodes]

Nasty dry here too. Average rainfall seems best but it doesn't seem to happen much!
Still going around packing down and checking colonies.

 

[Moobee]

Watched the girls bringing in loads of pollen - acid yellow, white, bright orange. Anyone know what pale green pollen might be?

 

[Murox]

Put off inspecting the farm bees again, too cold, too wet and too windy. Maybe soon - last year it was the 24 April.

 

[elainemary]

Watched the girls bringing in loads of pollen - acid yellow, white, bright orange. Anyone know what pale green pollen might be?

Purple crab apple? This is a good little guide it gives colour charts and the months in flower. Aubretia and Arabis could also fit…

 

[Swn58]

I feel slightly better that I'm not the only one

Same here. All seemed fine a few weeks back, but on a more detailed inspection on one apiary I found three hives like that. One had a few unsealed and sealed brood, but no queen I could see. It was not populated as much as I expected. Another early drone cells but little else. Again, no sign of the queen. The third, that I thought was well populated was obviously not and was actually being robbed. Not the best of starts!

 

[Antipodes]

Inspecting more today and after removing two frames in the top box in this one, I found something seriously wrong.