Today we opened the TBH to see how everyone was doing and to try and figure out next steps in our spring preparations. We have had two weeks of gorgeous spring-like weather, and everything is coming alive. A couple of weeks ago, I was just seeing the very first billowy blossoms on a few trees; today those same trees, and several of their neighbors, are in full bloom! I think we are still some time away from the peak of bloomingness (<--not a real word), but it sure feels like spring.
The bees are getting into the act too. When we opened the hive today, we were actually able to watch the queen laying eggs! That's something I've never seen before, and I really didn't expect to pull a comb out into broad daylight and find the queen just going about her business. It was really incredible to see her go from cell to cell, inspect each one closely by putting her head in and then walk over the cell, put her abdomen in and presumably lay an egg. Then later, we saw a new worker bee emerge from her capped cell. It was all happening in the TBH today!
The bees immediately put the new top bars into use by building beautiful new comb on them--the two that we added last week were each about 1/3 drawn out! They are also bringing in loads more nectar and pollen. Go bees, go!
This time, we introduced another top bar between bars 11 and 12 to open the brood nest even more. I can't wait to see what they get up to next week.
Unfortunately, the mite wars continue. We saw two bees with mites and a few wingless wonders. We're investigating ideas for treating them. Thanks to the reader who suggested powdered sugar. We will let you know what we finally decide to do and how it works.
Here are some videos of the action. It's best to go to full screen and increase the resolution from 360p to whatever your internet connection will allow....
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Thursday, February 3, 2011
TBH Update
Tim and I took a look at the TBH a few weeks ago and then again about a week ago. They seem to be doing okay. We opened up the brood nest and added some empty top bars on our first inspection, in hopes that the bees would quickly make some comb and feel like they have lots of room to expand rather than swarm. We'll see how that goes. On more recent peeks into the hive, we've noted that the bees are indeed making comb on the new top bars.
These bees are pretty paranoid. They are forever building queen cells that they don't do anything with. I sometimes wonder if it is because of the queen's laissez faire laying style. She really is a sloppy layer, but she seems to make a truck-load of bees regardless. Maybe this keeps the bees on edge. All of the queen cells appear to be superscedure cells--at least they are located toward the top of the combs--and we didn't think that they were actually laying in them. But last week, as I observed the hive, I saw a rather long, white, partially developed pupa fall from the bottom of the hive onto the ground. It looked to me like the colony was yanking a queen before she was fully developed. Did they decide that they didn't need her after all? Was something wrong with her? Hard to say.
While I was pulling weeds last week, I saw a couple of workers escort a wingless wonder from the hive. Looks like we're going to have to treat for Varroa soon. I haven't found a good technique for TBH hives though.
These bees are pretty paranoid. They are forever building queen cells that they don't do anything with. I sometimes wonder if it is because of the queen's laissez faire laying style. She really is a sloppy layer, but she seems to make a truck-load of bees regardless. Maybe this keeps the bees on edge. All of the queen cells appear to be superscedure cells--at least they are located toward the top of the combs--and we didn't think that they were actually laying in them. But last week, as I observed the hive, I saw a rather long, white, partially developed pupa fall from the bottom of the hive onto the ground. It looked to me like the colony was yanking a queen before she was fully developed. Did they decide that they didn't need her after all? Was something wrong with her? Hard to say.
While I was pulling weeds last week, I saw a couple of workers escort a wingless wonder from the hive. Looks like we're going to have to treat for Varroa soon. I haven't found a good technique for TBH hives though.
Livermore Starting to Bloom
Over the last two weeks, trees have begun to blossom. Our apricot in the backyard is still covered in tightly closed buds, but along the walking path, I saw an almond today, which was partially in bloom and two trees with delicate pink blossoms. One, which had just a few blossoms last week, was densely covered in delicate, pink blooms today. An almond, just around the corner was almost in full bloom. And the yellow puff ball tree on Livermore St. was fully blooming.
The first tree I noticed with blossoms on it this year was what I think is a fruitless mulberry tree. It has squat, broad green leaves and loads of small, white blossoms. We had one in our old backyard, and the first one I saw blooming this year was in a parking lot near Stoneridge mall. Other tress, without blossoms, are starting to throw out green shoots. Yet some trees are still completely bare and dormant. I think we're just a couple of weeks away from full bloom!
The first tree I noticed with blossoms on it this year was what I think is a fruitless mulberry tree. It has squat, broad green leaves and loads of small, white blossoms. We had one in our old backyard, and the first one I saw blooming this year was in a parking lot near Stoneridge mall. Other tress, without blossoms, are starting to throw out green shoots. Yet some trees are still completely bare and dormant. I think we're just a couple of weeks away from full bloom!
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