Recent Posts

21

General Beekeeping / Re: Package backfilling brood nest

« Last post by iddee on May 12, 2025, 07:32:25 pm »

It is always un-drawn foundation. If it is drawn, is is comb, not foundation. It is common practice to create a hole amongst the brood to get them to fill in the open space during comb drawing season, which is now.

22

General Beekeeping / Re: Package backfilling brood nest

« Last post by Bakersdozen on May 12, 2025, 06:00:59 pm »

I would put a frame with foundation in the middle. They do not like holes in their nest. They should go to work on it immediately. As soon as they get it past midway, put another one in there.

Thanks iddee. Do you mean a frame of un-drawn foundation in the middle? I'm always concerned about splitting up the brood nest, but this time of year it might be find to do that.

23

Other Pollinators / Jewel Bees Love Fish Emulsion Apparently

« Last post by The15thMember on May 12, 2025, 03:25:23 pm »

My mom mixed up a jug of fish emulsion to use while she planted her tomatoes and some starts we had gotten at a local nursery, and she rinsed off the little measuring scoop overtop of the elecampane, just because that is where the hose happened to be. Within 30 minutes, the leaves were covered in little jewel bees, along with a handful of carpenter bees and a few other wild bees.  I couldn't believe it!

If my ID is correct, most of these jewel bees are from the genus Augochlora. Some species are solitary, but some are social, with a life cycle similar to bumble bees and carpenter bees. I'm not sure what the bees with the duller coloration and striped abdomens are, perhaps a species of Andrena? There is also a green bottle fly trying to blend in with the jewel bees in one of the pictures.

It never ceases to amaze me how many different little bees are in our yards and gardens, quietly and often thanklessly working to pollinate our plants!

24

Swarms, Cut Outs, Trap Outs and Bee Trees / Re: I Caught a Swarm on My Hand!

« Last post by The15thMember on May 12, 2025, 03:17:56 pm »

I could, but our big spring flow just started, so I will check on them again either this weekend or next and see if they are making good use of that.

25

General Beekeeping / Re: Package backfilling brood nest

« Last post by iddee on May 12, 2025, 03:10:08 pm »

I would put a frame with foundation in the middle. They do not like holes in their nest. They should go to work on it immediately. As soon as they get it past midway, put another one in there.

26

General Beekeeping / Package backfilling brood nest

« Last post by Bakersdozen on May 12, 2025, 12:34:17 pm »

I put a package of bees in a single brood box with some drawn comb in the center and un-drawn foundation on the outsides. I have been giving them 1:1 sugar syrup and checking their progress.  Last week I marked the queen, a nice looking Italian. Yesterday I checked on their progress and they backfilled the entire brood nest and haven't drawn any wax. I didn't see any signs of supercedure or swarm cells surprisingly.  There is a wee bit of brood still present. I gave them a few more frames of drawn comb so she would have a place to lay eggs. We are peaking on our spring nectar flow here but I don't understand why no one isn't drawing comb? If they don't do it now they not going to do it in another 6 weeks.

27

Swarms, Cut Outs, Trap Outs and Bee Trees / Re: I Caught a Swarm on My Hand!

« Last post by Bakersdozen on May 12, 2025, 12:20:56 pm »

Perhaps if you give them some 1:1 sugar syrup it might speed things up a bit.

28

General Beekeeping / Re: First Swarm of 2025

« Last post by Bakersdozen on May 12, 2025, 12:19:15 pm »

I  don't know how I overlooked this for two days!
I have read several times of this forum about retired beekeepers who have equipment sitting around and a swarm finds them. Even though they are retired, the bees haven't quit them.
Rober, I'm glad you have someone to pass them off to. Is your daughter enjoying her new hobby?

29

Swarms, Cut Outs, Trap Outs and Bee Trees / Re: I Caught a Swarm on My Hand!

« Last post by The15thMember on May 12, 2025, 09:04:12 am »

Everything seems to be fine with Queen Belle. She mated successfully, so she must have been an okay flyer. They didn’t draw much comb very quickly, which is a little bit odd, and this swarm wasn’t very large, so they are only in two mediums, but they are plugging away. 

30

General Beekeeping / Re: First Swarm of 2025

« Last post by The15thMember on May 12, 2025, 09:00:26 am »

I read it!