Update on Microtel bees.

Decided It was about time to visit the Microtel bees again. It had been two weeks. It's a good thing I did, they look like they are about to move out. I added another deep box. Hope they will be fine. Only was able to get off a couple shots before one decided just sting me on my arm. That's what I get for approaching without my suit.

The Sting

This morning was quite adventurous and traumatic all in one. A visit to Vineyard hives was the first my nephew Justin visited the bess let alone help with the harvesting and checking of honey and honeybees.
Jackson sat in the vehicle even though temps were 85 degrees and climbing. Thus making the 9am visit, still a sweaty proposition. Alex our photography took a few shots while we were there. The bee shot was of our Microtel bees.

After visiting the vineyard we headed to the Orchard hives to check on them. Currently still trying to nurse one of those hives into being. Pretty sure still no queen and they apparently have been unsuccessful in making one as well. Anyway the other hive seems still strong though numbers look smaller but we have two deeps and two honey boxes on hive. Stole once again some early brood and placed into weakened hive. 

When done we were almost ready to go and Alex yelped. He had been towards the back of the vehicle when he was stunk directly under his right eye on his cheek. Unable to attend immediately help, he ran around screaming as several other bees were trying to follow up with some more torment, being warned by the stinging pheromones. As I approached some bees were following me as well, and we were afraid of them stinging him. Finally I was able after a few minutes approach and extract the lodged stinger from his cheek. Already swelling and tears with in his eyes, more bees came and he was off to the races. Pretty sure he'll be a sprinter in high school. After the bees dissipated we loaded up and have quite a story to tell. Don't think he'll be wanting to visit the bees any time soon. Though for those who read this, honeybees don't just come and sting you. A few apparently smelled the honey in the back of the vehicle and came calling in that area. One lit on his cheek and he swatted at it, thus the sting.

8-6-13 Visit

Took 3 more honey frames from the Vineyard hive, only a few more and i'll have another 50 lbs. Pretty good year since these are all new colonies. Orchard hive North is still struggling. No sign of new queen nor her offspring. Placed a small sampling of brood from Orchard South so they can continue to keep numbers but I'm afraid unless the new queen shows with eggs, it will most likely parish.
Microtel hive continues to grow stronger but not as fast as I'd like it. Therefore I gave them a half frame of brood from Vineyard hive. Vineyard hive is strong and I hope it will still be fine after losing some of their own to help another. Guess we will find out.

Here's an image I took at home on one of our butterfly bushes. This bush is nearly 10' tall and covers a 1/4 of our south elevation of our house. I think it's about 6 years old now.

Help Save The Bees

http://www.helpsavebees.co.uk/to_do_list.html

You can also donate to our local non-profit beekeeping association. Call me for details.

Times and trials

So, for the past month I've been dealing with the two Orchard hive losing their queens. At a loss as to why they disappeared however replaced the twice and finally one took and the other hive finally got tired and made their own. They did this with the help of myself by me giving them brand new brood from which they made queen cells from.

So today harvested a couple more frames of honey and saw that one hive gas eggs and is doing well and the other has a new queen. Yet to make her virgin flight, so hoping for the best.

So far I have harvested about 50lbs if honey. Will start bottling soon.

Also caught some wild bees at the Kelly residence with the help of Clarence. He was moving them in to a new box this week.

Update on a hot week

 Some honeybees are hanging out outside of box with the high 80 degree temps.

 Even though it rained half the day the bees were active this evening but mostly trying to stay cooler.

 Microtel bees are doing well but decided to try out my sugar feeders. Installed two gallon feeder this evening.

Filling with sugar water so they can build comb quicker.

 Strong numbers. The transfer killed very few of the wild bees.

 In four days, the honeybees built out 2.5 frames.

1/2 the honeycomb are filled with new eggs? The queen must be happy with her new digs.

PHOTOS FROM THE 15TH.