30 July 2013

Week 11

It looks like there are less bees and they aren't building more comb. I'm distressed but it may have to do with the recent mowing of our thistle. Mark had to control it but I'm worried it removed too much of their "near forage" - plus mowing during the day kills alot of bees who are on the flowers.

Hopefully, the queen didn't swarm and now I have to wait for another queen to develop. I do not want to disturb the hive by opening it just to find that out. But if I've lost my queen, I guess what can happen is only drones will be born and if a queen doesn't develop soon enough, the hive will just dwindle away.

I will keep you posted.

Here's an interesting article:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/beekeeping/10206225/Radar-antennae-reveal-how-disease-and-pesticides-are-harming-bees-navigation.html

Well now 9 weeks into this venture, the bees seem to happily continue building comb and presumably producing and feeding brood.

Here's my latest video - I put up a game camera because a black bear was spotted at the end of our driveway!