Yes I agree with Kerry, the q&a is invaluable to us newbies. Thank you. Sam
Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
On Mon, 29 Jun 2020 at 11:04, Karen Giles<karen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
How interesting Lynne, that’s very reassuring. I shall give it a go later and
feed back.
Thanks for the very rapid response it’s so gratefully received for us newbies
feeling our way!
Best
Karen
Karen Giles Senior Design EngineerBlack Dog Design Ltd
t: 07790 908144e:karen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
On 29 Jun 2020, at 10:55, Oxnatbees <oxnatbees@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Karen
Yes bees dislike gusty windy weather, you can imagine it must be difficult if
not lethal to fly in, so remain in the hive under such circumstances. So that
all sounds like a very healthy colony doing a planned supercedure. As you say,
they are acting purposeful and queen-right.
By the way, if not already aware, an easy way to test for a queen-right hive
is the 'rap' test. Put your ear to the hive body, now 'rap' once loudly on the
hive with your knuckle to create a loud sharp sound. You will hear the colony
'roar' in response as the sound causes an initial alarm. However, if that
'roar' sounds but them immediately ceases again (after only say 1-3 secs), that
is a good sign the colony is queen-right. If the noisy grumbly roar continues
longer and only dies back gradually say throughout 10-20 secs, that indicates
either no queen or perhaps a weak failing one. If the hive contains the
pheromones of a healthy queen, calm order is maintained.
Prime swarms have the old fertile queen and so once the new colony is well
underway and established, it is not unusual that she might be replaced as she
ages. She will still be there laying and probably you will get a queen-right
response, but likely her laying output will have decreased over time and so the
workers have decided time for a new queen. There are plenty of drones around at
the moment so it's a good time to do it.
The fact that the colony only built a certain amount of comb and then stopped
is absolutely fine. New colonies have a lot of competing priorities and don't
build comb continuously, only as needed.
Lynne
On Mon, 29 Jun 2020, 10:27 Karen Giles, <karen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Hi All,
I hope I'm not encroaching but this email chain has sparked a slight worry with
me as my TBH hasn't built any new comb in a few weeks now. (it's about half
full) I have also noticed a queen cup in construction which they have helpfully
placed by the window.
They were a swarm collected back in April.
I haven't been into the bars to inspect as yet other than to give more space
and want to avoid doing so if possible.
They have been generally busy and pollen is still going in regularly, in fact
the bottom board is often covered in pollen when I check it, having said that,
they were very quiet yesterday but I'm hoping that was more to do with the wind.
My guess is they are superseding the queen but I would love an expert opinion.
Any thoughts welcome,
Best
Karen
On Mon, 29 Jun 2020 at 08:44, Oxnatbees <oxnatbees@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
It's odd that there are no drone larvae - no "curly pearlies" at all.
The fact they have not built more comb is not alarming. They will have plenty
of empty comb to use before they need more, because swarms take honey with
them. Bees build comb when needed, not continuously.
I think the "cure" for drone laying workers is to transfer in a comb of brood +
eggs (not eggs alone). You should google that to check I am right. The smell of
the brood triggers their nursing instincts. The fact that your other hive is a
different type is not a show stopper: you can simply put a frame in at right
angles to the TBH comb (!) - not ideal but, crucially, a rapid transfer which
does not chill the brood. The bees will smell & cover it to keep it warm; it
should ideally be wedged upright so no larvae fall out. Don't faff around
trying to cut a frame to the right shape/ size and tying it to a bar, you will
probably just kill and chill the brood on it in the current weather.
Paul
On Sun, 28 Jun 2020 at 22:42, Ann Welch <ann.welch123@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Hi Kerry, Could be that the queen didn't mate properly so has herself become a
drone layer. Usually if the workers are laying there will be multiple eggs in
cells and they're not usually right down at the bottom but laid on the sides of
the cells. Are you sure there are no eggs visible at all?
Ann
On 28/06/2020 22:31, Kerry Dawson wrote:
Dear All,
Since swarming on 2 May and again on 8 May, I have been observing the bees
in my tbh to see if all was progressing as it should. The remaining bees were
still plentiful and purposeful, but it seemed strange that, after several
weeks, they were not building new comb and numbers despite the good weather and
foraging activity.
A couple of days ago I decided to do a full inspection. I found no eggs and
no brood. The combs are full of nectar and there are capped drone cells, so I
think workers are laying.
My question is what to do? Would introducing some eggs from another hive
encourage them to make a new queen, or has too much time passed for this? Also,
I can't easily transfer brood from my other hive, as it is not a tbh.
It is very sad to watch the colony decline. Any help and advice welcome.
Kerry
--
Karen Giles Senior Design EngineerBlack Dog Design Ltd
t: 07790 908144e:karen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
