Quick question - I read on a social networking site, a post from a well known field centre - not far from Inverness [ we all know the one ] that a swarm had been found from their hive, caught and hived. The reason for the swarm was stated as being due to the hot weather. This is not something I have heard of before, so is there any evidence that bees will swarm if it is too hot, or is it just down to the well known reasons - given that some of them are still behind due to the cold spring ?
An experienced local beekeeper was telling me that he'd had a few colonies - on different sites - disappear with the queen. He thought that it was hot weather-induced absconding.
Re: todays news
Got a call this morning from my dad saying that the queen was out front of nuc and flying around intermittently. He was worried that there was something wrong. I had to tell him the good news about orientation flights and the mating that will soon take place!Originally Posted by Jon
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Orientation flights can take place early but the mating flights always seem to take place between 12.30 and about 5.30pm
Re: todays news
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What time was your pic taken?
That looks like the little cluster you get with the queen when she is on her mating flight and has a mating swarm with her.
Sometimes the queen lands short and you find a little cluster like this on a fencepost or stuck in a bush somewhere.
I bet you a fiver there are eggs in there by Wednesday!
I was in work and my brother sent me a pic at 1pm of her and a few workers at the entrance, then about half one he sent me that pic with the cluster
I'm hoping there are eggs by wednesday, I'd pay a fiver for them!!
1.30pm and photographic evidence of what you often see after a mating flight.
Odds on for eggs on Wednesday.
I have rescued several little clusters like this and I always see eggs 2 days later.
That's a great picture as most beekeepers will never have seen that.
Just sitting here twiddling my thumbs at this minute. waiting for my 6 week movement ban to be lifted. Just to rub salt into the wound , Thornes just sent me my cut-comb containers. Misery - as I can't take advantage of the best clover bloom for years, Just have to make do with comb honey when I can get my equipment into my out apiaries.
Aha! on another thread I have just been mumbling about cut comb and sections etc
Have you tried any of those section things square or round
Sorry about your standstill --its lashing rain half the time anyway
I can't tell you how amazed I am someone can spot 1 dodgy cell in a hive heaving with bees
I have just been fishing a virgin queen out of a queen raiser (hair roller)
Needless to say no smoke 2 stings on finger filling apidea and my guitar lesson at 7.00pm hey ho!
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