What did you do in the Apiary today?

[Parsonage Bees]

Last inspection. Variable, only one BIAS and a couple just capped brood. Found 2 queens.
Removed ApiGuard #2. Wish them well.

 

[BeeKeyPlayer]

At my other apiary today. As expected, most of the colonies have only some sealed brood so I'll be doing the 'Christmas' vape at the end of this month. I think I keep on the safe side with feeding - not more than four or five L/ kg of syrup/fondant at a time. Even so, two hives had filled their brood boxes with stores. I take it they have plans to use the nadired shallow for brood!

I was keen to see what effect the general shut down on brood rearing would have on a couple of colonies that had nine frames of brood 3-4 weeks ago. Answer: none. No effect, that is. They are still full of brood and that includes as much open brood as sealed. I guess they are what is known as (hyper)prolific queens. I believe that is a death sentence in some beekeeping circles. Of course, they have little room for stores but I'm not going to feed them any more for now.

 

[Antipodes]

What I found was that all 25 have no eggs or larvae

By the time the queen starts laying again they will be well and truly devoid of nurse bees, and then further time until new "nurse" bees emerge. I guess it goes to show the plasticity of older bees to resume nursing duties.

 

[BeeKeyPlayer]

By the time the queen starts laying again they will be well and truly devoid of nurse bees, and then further time until new "nurse" bees emerge. I guess it goes to show the plasticity of older bees to resume nursing duties.

I don't know much about this but if these large populations (most of these colonies are still packed with bees) include winter bees, might it be that their extended youth means that they retain the attributes and roles of young bees?

 

[Antipodes]

I don't know much about this but if these large populations (most of these colonies are still packed with bees) include winter bees, might it be that their extended youth means that they retain the attributes and roles of young bees?

Could be. I reckon bees of any age can probably revert to raising brood, perhaps not as well as in their youth though. I noticed huge gaps in brood in some colonies in the drought down here earlier in the year....but not in every colony of course!