Here are a couple of nice pictures of entrance reducers made by the bees
themselves, to aid defence. They're usually a bit tricky to photograph
because they are dark and hidden in shadows!
Typically these are made by smaller colonies which are short on girlpower.
I note that both the casts I hived this year have made them, perhaps
feeling a bit nervous next to the two huge established colonies.
So far I have not seen evidence of robbing by other bees or wasps. The
recent rain should recharge nectaries so there should not be a severe food
dearth, which sometimes triggers robbing, for at least a fortnight; so the
barriers may never be needed. If the colonies become large and successful,
I would expect them to eventually dismantle the barriers as they will get
in the way of increased traffic and ventilation needs.
I talked with John Haverson in Hampshire a couple of days ago. He says his
bees have greatly reduced the amount of pollen going in - I have seen this
too. We assume this is because they have reduced the amount of brood they
are rearing as the June Forage Gap nears.
Paul
Attachment:
Hive1_cast_June_2020-reduced.jpg
Description: JPEG image
Attachment:
Hive3_23-8-2018-reduced.jpg
Description: JPEG image
