Here I'm going to run a little test to see if you are able to effectively use this link to see a neat video about the first hive inspection of the spring.
Hopefully, this will just work by clicking on it. Check out the following:
Spring Inspection
Once the video begins, you can right click on the small image and select ZOOM for screen size options. Happy viewing!
Signing off,
Bees Keeper
Showing posts with label Beekeeping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Beekeeping. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Monday, May 5, 2008
Swarmest
Up close and personal!
Any time I can get my hands on one of these nice-sized swarms, I'm happy.
Free bees. Freebie!
Have a good evening.
Signing off,
Bees Keeper
Any time I can get my hands on one of these nice-sized swarms, I'm happy.
Free bees. Freebie!
Have a good evening.
Signing off,
Bees Keeper
Swarmer
These gals obviously picked a nice warm day to pull up stakes and head for parts unknown.
Really, the most fascinating part of a honeybee swarm is the part just before this stage. Bees literally FILL the air as they wait for the queen to land somewhere. Then they all cluster like this to wait while their scouts find a new place for them to live.
Signing off,
Bees Keeper
Really, the most fascinating part of a honeybee swarm is the part just before this stage. Bees literally FILL the air as they wait for the queen to land somewhere. Then they all cluster like this to wait while their scouts find a new place for them to live.
Signing off,
Bees Keeper
Swarm
First, last month's "Poll" question was, "How long has Bees Keeper been keeping bees?" Answer: I'll never tell.
With that out of the way, it's May. Typically, May and June are considered "swarming season" for bees and beekeepers. So, just in case you should encounter something similar-looking to this, you'll know that some nearby honeybees are perpetuating the species.
Whatever, you do, don't panic! If you're seeing a swarm of honeybees, you are seeing them at their MOST docile moment. They just LOOK intimidating!
Just send me an email and I'll come get them!
Signing off,
Bees Keeper
With that out of the way, it's May. Typically, May and June are considered "swarming season" for bees and beekeepers. So, just in case you should encounter something similar-looking to this, you'll know that some nearby honeybees are perpetuating the species.
Whatever, you do, don't panic! If you're seeing a swarm of honeybees, you are seeing them at their MOST docile moment. They just LOOK intimidating!
Just send me an email and I'll come get them!
Signing off,
Bees Keeper
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Again...
Looking out from the inside of the window...a closeup view of wild bees at work.
Signing off,
Bees Keeper
Signing off,
Bees Keeper
Wild Colony...
Well, here Max xx has captured an intriguing series of shots of a wild colony holed up in the exterior of a window casing.
This is what the bees do when they don't have "assistance" from human beings.
Of course, the thing had t be removed in order to further progress on the remodel.
Signing off,
Bees Keeper
This is what the bees do when they don't have "assistance" from human beings.
Of course, the thing had t be removed in order to further progress on the remodel.
Signing off,
Bees Keeper
Monday, April 28, 2008
Monday, Monday.
The weekend, as usual, was busy but we did manage to actually accomplish a few things.
On Friday, I discovered that one of the hives that came through the winter had lots of bees in it, but NO brood. Not good.
Although I did spot a few eggs there, they were such a smattering that I began wondering if the queen had died.
She was there, though, and once I found her I watched for awhile to see what the heck she was up to. A whole lot of nothing.
Fortunately, Jim, out at the Beez Neez, had some queens on hand. Carrie stopped by there on the way home from work and snagged one...I thought.
Low and behold, when she arrived home, there were TWO queen cages in the little bag. Obviously, I had not communicated effectively. But not to worry.
Since I had so many bees in this particular hive, I split the hive and installed a new queen in each half. I did, of course, find and "deal with" the old queen before placing the new queen cage inside.
Such a pity. That queen was actually my best producer last year. Hated to see her go, but when you're done, you're done!
Today started out a bit on the wet side, but now the sun's out and we're hoping for dryness and warmth!
Signing off,
Bees Keeper
On Friday, I discovered that one of the hives that came through the winter had lots of bees in it, but NO brood. Not good.
Although I did spot a few eggs there, they were such a smattering that I began wondering if the queen had died.
She was there, though, and once I found her I watched for awhile to see what the heck she was up to. A whole lot of nothing.
Fortunately, Jim, out at the Beez Neez, had some queens on hand. Carrie stopped by there on the way home from work and snagged one...I thought.
Low and behold, when she arrived home, there were TWO queen cages in the little bag. Obviously, I had not communicated effectively. But not to worry.
Since I had so many bees in this particular hive, I split the hive and installed a new queen in each half. I did, of course, find and "deal with" the old queen before placing the new queen cage inside.
Such a pity. That queen was actually my best producer last year. Hated to see her go, but when you're done, you're done!
Today started out a bit on the wet side, but now the sun's out and we're hoping for dryness and warmth!
Signing off,
Bees Keeper
More...
Max xx has certainly captured the process for us.
These are truly great shots!
Signing off,
Bees Keeper
These are truly great shots!
Signing off,
Bees Keeper
To Bee or Not To Bee...
This one looks like she's seriously considering just popping the lid back on and going back to bed.
But, of course, the sisterhood wouldn't stand for that.
C'mon! Let's get crackin'!
Signing off,
Bees Keeper
But, of course, the sisterhood wouldn't stand for that.
C'mon! Let's get crackin'!
Signing off,
Bees Keeper
It's a Bee!
Once the new bee is fully developed in the capped cell, she chews her way out into the world.
Now, since the worker bees lifespan is only five to six weeks from the day she emerges from this cell, she gets busy right away.
When you figure that a vibrant queen bee lays 1500 eggs in a day, you can see how the population in the hive increases rapidly as spring sets in.
At peak summer season, each hive will be home to anywhere from 50 to 80 thousand bees.
Signing off,
Bees Keeper
Now, since the worker bees lifespan is only five to six weeks from the day she emerges from this cell, she gets busy right away.
When you figure that a vibrant queen bee lays 1500 eggs in a day, you can see how the population in the hive increases rapidly as spring sets in.
At peak summer season, each hive will be home to anywhere from 50 to 80 thousand bees.
Signing off,
Bees Keeper
They're Called "Brood"
Here's a terrific shot of the later stage larvae along with what we call "capped brood."
So first, it's the egg. Then the "uncapped brood" as you can see here. Finally, the bees cap off the cells with a wax covering and the new bee develops through the pupae stage and into the fully developed BEE!
Good stuff here!
Signing off,
Bees Keeper
So first, it's the egg. Then the "uncapped brood" as you can see here. Finally, the bees cap off the cells with a wax covering and the new bee develops through the pupae stage and into the fully developed BEE!
Good stuff here!
Signing off,
Bees Keeper
Friday, April 25, 2008
From Egg to Larva...
You can see here after the three days in the egg stage, the developing larva lays down in the bottom of the cell in the fetal position and like any other baby...GROWS!
When inspecting your hives, you always want to see lots of cells in this phase of development as well.
Soon these little gals will be capped over with beeswax for the final transition into an actual bee.
Signing off,
Bees Keeper
When inspecting your hives, you always want to see lots of cells in this phase of development as well.
Soon these little gals will be capped over with beeswax for the final transition into an actual bee.
Signing off,
Bees Keeper
Bees Besieged!
Great name for a great book!
"Bill Mares travels the U.S. interviewing hobby, sideline and commercial beekeepers, honey packers and importers, honey bee researchers and scientists and many others related to the beekeeping industry to identify the status of beekeeping in the U.S. and looks for answers to questions on varroa and tracheal mites, resistant diseases, cheap imported honey prices, research problems, the economics of American agriculture, and the decline in the number of beekeepers in America.
"Bill Mares travels the U.S. interviewing hobby, sideline and commercial beekeepers, honey packers and importers, honey bee researchers and scientists and many others related to the beekeeping industry to identify the status of beekeeping in the U.S. and looks for answers to questions on varroa and tracheal mites, resistant diseases, cheap imported honey prices, research problems, the economics of American agriculture, and the decline in the number of beekeepers in America.
During this odyssey, Bill captures the beekeeping industry in its glory and in its wisdom, in its innocence, and with its pants down. He paints the whole picture as no one has done before. He examines, too, the common aspects of the beekeeping industry...its past, the present and even the future, the many personalities, and the diverse parts and pieces and places that make up this tiny, esoteric, but critical cog of modern agriculture.
This snapshot, developed from the perspective of someone who needs honey bees in his life, makes our understanding easier and, perhaps, the troubles less threatening."
I'd highly recommend this book to anyone who has even the remotest interest in the state of the honeybee today!
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Aladdin's Cave
No wonder she's all yellow when she arrives at the hive!
The apparent pollen "baskets" on the rear legs are really not baskets at all.
What you see there is really just a pollen WAD. It's sticky stuff, you know, and therefore simply clings to those legs until she off-loads it into the appropriate cell deep within the hive.
Have a good night all!
Signing off,
Bees Keeper.
The apparent pollen "baskets" on the rear legs are really not baskets at all.
What you see there is really just a pollen WAD. It's sticky stuff, you know, and therefore simply clings to those legs until she off-loads it into the appropriate cell deep within the hive.
Have a good night all!
Signing off,
Bees Keeper.
Field Trip...
Now this is how it's done!
Did you know that the honeybee cycles its wings 11,000 times per minute when flying?
And even at that, the "experts" in flight tell us that the way they are constructed, there's no way they should be able to fly at all.
Must have something to do with Who made them rather than how they were made.
Signing off,
Bees Keeper
Did you know that the honeybee cycles its wings 11,000 times per minute when flying?
And even at that, the "experts" in flight tell us that the way they are constructed, there's no way they should be able to fly at all.
Must have something to do with Who made them rather than how they were made.
Signing off,
Bees Keeper
Zoom Eggs!
Be sure to click on this photo of, once again, newly laid eggs. Then follow the directions in Techmeister's comment below the pic.
You'll have the best view you ever will of what the egg looks like in the cell. Fabulous!
You can see why it's so much easier to do hive inspections on bright sunny days. When the slightest little cloud comes by to darken things up, it's darn hard to see these little buzzers-in-the-making!
Signing off,
Bees Keeper
You'll have the best view you ever will of what the egg looks like in the cell. Fabulous!
You can see why it's so much easier to do hive inspections on bright sunny days. When the slightest little cloud comes by to darken things up, it's darn hard to see these little buzzers-in-the-making!
Signing off,
Bees Keeper
Eggs, Eggs and More Eggs!
For a thriving hive, upon inspection you must be able to visualize EGGS! Once the queen has laid the egg in the bottom of the cell, as seen here many times over, it is only an egg for three days. After that, it has developed into the larval stage.
Therefore, while inspecting the frames in your hive, if you don't find eggs it means that the queen has not been present and laying for at least three days. This is not good. You must re-queen right away in order to maintain the essential life cycle within the colony.
This is tremendous photography of what you want to see each and every time you open your hive. If you've never seen them before, the eggs are those little white rice-like things standing up in the bottoms of those otherwise empty cells. Only one egg per cell is allowed!
Signing off,
Bees Keeper
Therefore, while inspecting the frames in your hive, if you don't find eggs it means that the queen has not been present and laying for at least three days. This is not good. You must re-queen right away in order to maintain the essential life cycle within the colony.
This is tremendous photography of what you want to see each and every time you open your hive. If you've never seen them before, the eggs are those little white rice-like things standing up in the bottoms of those otherwise empty cells. Only one egg per cell is allowed!
Signing off,
Bees Keeper
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
There She Is...Miss Queen!
This will be my parting shot for today.
As you can see this mature queen is significantly larger than the workers around her. She's an egg-laying machine.
Also, notice the blue dot up on her back. That is placed there manually by the beekeeper to make her easier to spot in the hive. This makes her a "marked queen."
Well, stay tuned. I'm sure we'll be seeing more of the hive and it's activity in future posts.
Signing off,
Bees Keeper
As you can see this mature queen is significantly larger than the workers around her. She's an egg-laying machine.
Also, notice the blue dot up on her back. That is placed there manually by the beekeeper to make her easier to spot in the hive. This makes her a "marked queen."
Well, stay tuned. I'm sure we'll be seeing more of the hive and it's activity in future posts.
Signing off,
Bees Keeper
Pollen Count...
And this is what that same pollen looks like after they've off-loaded and stored it in the comb.
I wish my storage was this organized!
Signing off,
Bees Keeper
I wish my storage was this organized!
Signing off,
Bees Keeper
Saddle Bags
I'm trying out a new feature this evening that allows me to post photos - really good ones too - from Flickr.
I'm hoping this will make for added interest, since you've been kind enough to come visit here.
I think the term "Saddle Bags" is an appropriate description of what we're seeing here: a worker bee with a developing load of pollen.
Signing off,
Bees Keeper
I'm hoping this will make for added interest, since you've been kind enough to come visit here.
I think the term "Saddle Bags" is an appropriate description of what we're seeing here: a worker bee with a developing load of pollen.
Signing off,
Bees Keeper
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