Comments for The Honeybee Wranglers

Comment on Swarms by Liz Thompson

Liz Thompson — Sun, 24 Apr 2016 00:42:00 +0000

So what happened to the swarm I brought home? As I was installing them, there was a tragic accident. The lid, full of bees, fell from the top of the hive. I carried on with the installation but there was a stubborn group of bees that wasn’t interested in going into the box. I left them figuring they’d head in overnight. The next morning, Saturday, they were still there. As I gently moved them out of the way it was apparent they were attracted to and clustering about a dead queen with a red mark. Whether it was beekeeper error, fate, a gust of wind or bees making a decision we’ll never know. The bees remained in the hive and set to work collecting nectar and building comb. On Wednesday, I purchased a Carniolian queen, marked white, from Eversweet Apiaries. I installed her on Wednesday and released her on Saturday. As far as I can tell, the bees have accepted her. We’ll see in about 1-2 weeks.

Comment on Observation Hive Swarmed Again! by Kristien Z

Kristien Z — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 01:02:52 +0000

I keep thinking that I am reading an old email when the post alert comes. This is swarm how many? Time for a bait hive? Waiting for pictures!

Comment on Queen Rearing Round 6 Q6 Back to the Farm! by Liz Thompson

Liz Thompson — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 01:11:12 +0000

But the cells on the side I was watching were in line when we closed the hive. I think the bee’s activity moved them, either intentionally or unintentionally.

Comment on Queen Rearing Round 5 – Allen Helps Out by Kristien Z

Kristien Z — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 23:37:03 +0000

Allen installed the natural virgins in his hives, I installed 2 cells in laying worker nucs. One did not hatch, the other got dipped, unfortunately. Another set was installed in a nuc, and looks like the one pictured. That one is doing well, but a bit defensive. Another went into formerly George, and I have not yet checked that one, but it looks active from the outside.
Another went into it’s own nuc, and has not yet been checked.
I am a little at a loss in how to keep track of lineages, if not by color coding the queens.
Some people advise to write on the inter portion of the lid.

I cannot wait to try again!

Comment on Queen Rearing Round 5 – Allen Helps Out by Kristien Z

Kristien Z — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 23:32:07 +0000

the queen that got dipped in orange is still in the hive, but no brood. She may not have mated and is now unable to fly. That one needs a new queen for sure!

Comment on Queen Rearing Round 6 Q6 Back to the Farm! by Kristien Z

Kristien Z — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 23:30:26 +0000

The ones that took seem to have a good bit of food in them. I think next time, the frame needs more space on either side, the cells seemed to have suffered from going in and out. I don’t know that the bees will start a cell that is not facing down.

Comment on Royalty Verified! by todd

todd — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 18:59:56 +0000

Does this line of queens have a name? I have her half sister, but don’t know what to call her.

Comment on Have I Mentioned Swarms? by Liz Thompson

Liz Thompson — Mon, 18 May 2015 20:18:24 +0000

Kristien has diagnosed them as queenless. I have not approached them I think her plan is to tear them down and reassemble them as nucs with a frame of brood from elsewhere. Is that right, Kristien?

Regarding the Mel Swarm colony, they just seem really congested. It could be that I’ve seen so many swarms recently that every bunch of bees I see looks like a potential swarm.

Comment on Have I Mentioned Swarms? by todd

todd — Mon, 18 May 2015 16:56:31 +0000

Do you think the Q1 Sally 2 hive is queenless just because of their disposition? Surely you haven’t gone through the hive looking for her. I suppose Kristien could introduce a new strong queen and hope for the best. I wish her lots of luck with that hive.

And why do you think the thrice-supered hive will swarm? I can’t believe that you have three supers full of honey. If so, I bow to your prowess and expertise. It would be a shame to lose that queen. Ah yes, just another swarm in Liz’s paradise.

Comment on Did I Already Say Swarm Again? by todd

todd — Sun, 17 May 2015 04:12:34 +0000

Why are we rearing queens and setting up nurse hives when Liz has a much easier system. It keeps spitting out new queens with a couple pounds of support bees. Do you think we can replicate this? It seems to me that a swarm is a much more natural and perhaps viable way to propagate a line of queens than grafting and stealing nurse bees and brood. This is awesome! Way to go Liz!