Blog Comments

Aww, Its great to see Mitzzi back on the forum Trog.

Indeed, and where do you think the bagpipe makers got the idea for a drone ...?

like the dancing references.......I recently realised that bees obviously originated in Scotland. the so called waggle and round dances are taken straight from The Shepherds Crook......

No, Queenie doesn't have a name. I think she probably does have a crown, though. There is a Beatrice (who is inclined to be waspish) in the hive. She appeared in the first episode which was published in The Scottish Beekeeper round about this time last year, I think. Once the forum appeared with space for blogs I felt it was better to put the stories here rather than taking up magazine space!

Hi Trog,
You must have heard G asking if there was any more news on Mitzzi on the way back from the shops this afternoon. A question she has though is what's the Queen's name and does she have a crown that fits? Our Queens have to be named (Beatrice I, II, III so far)

First time G came to see the bees we were looking for the Queen & explained that she wasn't always easy to spot (it was only about my 3rd inspection anyway) to which she asked 'why? isn't she wearing her crown? You can get crowns of different sizes you know.'
It's surprised me (why I don't know) that her friends have also assumed that the Queen bee wears a crown.

Thanks, EmsE; I've only just found this. Just about to post another tale!

Hi Trog, I think Mitzzi has just found her first fan. I've just read all the tales from the hive to my daughter & she loves them- Looking forward to the next instalment & learning more about Mitzzi.

I noticed on a walk last week that there is still an amazing amount of ivy in flower.
It look like the current dip in temperature will put an end to foraging for 2010 though.
Mine have been bringing in masses of pollen on days when the temperature has been around 10c
There was a day a couple of weeks ago when it briefly reached 14c and the hive activity was like midsummer.

She is!

I didn't have a chance to see if mine were bringing in pollen but fished two out of the horse's water bucket, dried them out in the warm kitchen, then released them to find their way home! Otherwise it was a day of lugging firewood! We still have ivy flowering, though.

Mitzzi must be a native bee - reputed to live longer.
Either that of she has access to a mini Tardis.

I saw a few of mine returning with pollen today and it was only around 6c.
I'm sure quite a few got chilled and didn't make it home.

A mathematician might like to work out all the possible permutations!

Spent the morning with an image in my mind of a bee trying to cross each leg with all the others.

I'll let Mitzzi know next time I see her!

One of these days I'll have to give the 'back story' of why she's lived somewhat longer than she should! It involves a blue box ...

Ha! *This* particular male of the species can indeed speak bee. You'll need to come to Glenluce on Monday to find out what I mean. Or Oban perhaps in March, I forget.

Not in this weather, I don't! The knee's still red and itchy from Tuesday's sting - that one must have really got the full dose through - and I don't want to pick up any more. Anyway, Himself needs the practice; I've been doing most of the inspections this year!

So you've plenty of time to finish off those inspections!

Guess who *isn't* setting off on a two-week sailing trip today? The yacht's stormbound in Crinan and it may be Friday before we can join at Oban!

OK, Gavin, I wasn't seriously suggesting her maj makes decisions, any more than that the queen acts as caller at celebratory ceilidhs after the first nectar of the year arrives, or for that matter that individual bees have names! TftH are just flights of fancy sparked off by news headlines or events observed around or in the apiary, designed to amuse or entertain rather than instruct!

They'll be brood boxes (this year I have plenty of empties!) with one old comb (fumigated with acetic acid), a few frames with foundation either side, and some open space. I've tried the plastic tube lures (and they certainly attract bees), but this year I'm hoping to find lemon grass oil and will then add a few drops to a couple of frame top bars. Strap the lot together and site it in a S-facing spot wherever possible elevated on top of other boxes or in some other way. That's the plan, but I should add that I'm not particularly experienced.

Oh, and I think that your tale may over-emphasise the role of the queen in decision-making! She's happy to let her inner circle make the decision as she can't easily explore the sites being debated. Once they do, they point the way by making rapid back and forward flights in the middle of the flying mass of bees, pointing at the chosen site.

As usual, there's an element of truth somewhere in there but Tales from the Hive tend more to reflect current news!

How do you set up your bait hives? I'm always keen to try new ideas!