Cleaning out the beehive...

This one didn't have bees in it last summer and I didn't take it apart and put it away for the winter...BIG MISTAKE!
Between the wax moths and mice They destroyed one entire box of frames with wax in them( "a deep" is what we call the size of box) This is typically the size used for a hive body.

( photo / image / picture from carolyn keiper's Garden )

I found this little varmint just this way, either the bees that were in the box (just checking it out is all I could tell as there was no honey or pollen to be stolen from here) stung it to death or it died some other way, as I didn't help its demise. there wouldn't have been much left to show you if was me.

( photo / image / picture from carolyn keiper's Garden )



( photo / image / picture from carolyn keiper's Garden )


This was after I cleaned it all out and put it back together. Maybe I will have new residents soon. It had a lot of bee activity all around it and in it as I was cleaning it out.


( photo / image / picture from carolyn keiper's Garden )

 

Looks like quite a project. Wow.... beekeeping! I'm impressed.We lived in the country when I was growing up & my mom & dad kept bees. I didn't get involved in it, though....I was always too afraid of being stung!

 

That is an alarming sight, Carolyn. I guess it was a good lesson: always clean the things out before storing.
The wax moth makes an alarming mess, doesn't it.

Why do you think that the bees were showing so much interest whilst you were cleaning the old hive up?
If no bees go to that newly-cleaned hive to colonize soon, will you do that yourself?

Quite a posting, this.

 

Sjoerd, Swarm season is starting here, a little earlier than normal, but so are the dandelions. So, gauging the nectar/pollen flow will give you an idea if/when the bees will start swarming. Last year I did not see one swarm. Not that it didn't happen, but I didn't see or hear of any, but the weather here was wet wet wet and wetter.. Scout bees are the ones who check out the area for a suitable place to guide the queen to when it is time to move. I assume that is what these bees were doing. When I first looked at it I thought there was a swarm already moved into there. But there wasn't anything going on inside the hive except the mouse and moth destruction.

Eileen I can only hope for another swarm to move right in and I don't have to do anything special to get them there. Although there is a swarm lure I can put in the box that mimics the pheromone of the scout bees. It works wonderfully. I just don't have any right now. It smells like lemongrass essential oil. very nice, actually!

Luvsdirtyhands, Dandelion sap works wonders for a bee sting. IF you put it on right away. You pick the dandelion, let the sap well up and dab it on....No Pain, immediately!

 

Well, I cleaned out the hive awaiting the arrival of a new swarm and they obliged me yesterday at 4:30 in the afternoon (which is very late for a swarm to form) As I was putting up my pea fence I heard a loud noise behind me and I turned around to find another swarm clouding over me...YAHOOO!!!


This was the cluster that formed on the fence post in the raspberry row. This made retrieving the swarm very convenient.Thank you, girls.

( photo / image / picture from carolyn keiper's Garden )



This is "marching" . they all march into the hive. in the next picture you will see the have all changed direction from the first picture of the cluster and are now pointing down towards the ground where the hive body is positioned. This is the coolest thing to see them do.


( photo / image / picture from carolyn keiper's Garden )






( photo / image / picture from carolyn keiper's Garden )




This is a picture of how they "lock" their feet together. They are like velcro in the cluster. This is how they stay in the "ball" as they cluster around the queen.

( photo / image / picture from carolyn keiper's Garden )




Now they are marching into the hive entrance

( photo / image / picture from carolyn keiper's Garden )



Here is a bee with pollen baskets full for the new hive. She was out foraging before the swarm left the old hive, she is likely full of nectar, too which will be the start of the wax production for this hive as it needs a major renovation inside.


( photo / image / picture from carolyn keiper's Garden )

So now my last hive is full of bees...until I go buy another hive body to set up.

 

carolyn keiper, This is so wonderful. Everything I always wondered about but was afraid to ask. No, I would still never never do that. As much as I love animals, this one I wouldn't do......

Thanks for explaining and showing us such great close-ups.I love it.

Barb in Pa.

 

Barb, PLEASE ask anything you want about the bees. I will bee happy to tell you anything I know about them. If I don't know I will go find you the answer. They are such interesting little creatures.

 

Wow Carolyn that is amazing. Never though of bees as interesting.

Do you know anything about ground bees?
I have them in my garden and they really hurt. Been putting sevin dust on area.

 

This is great Carolyn. I love learning about the bees and how they make honey. I watch them in my garden, from a distance, but they are fascinating to watch, so learning about them is fun. Thank you so much for posting all the pics and explaining what is going on in each.

 

Donna, Sorry, I really don't know much about ground bees, which are most likely a wasp and not a bee. I know they are aggressive if disturbed. BUT they prey on the spider population for their larvae to feed on during the egg to larvae stage. So IF you can leave them alone or avoid the area, do. Skunks are also drawn to them and will destroy the nest if they find it, feeding on the entire thing. There will be nothing left if a skunk gets into the nest...That is about the extent of my knowledge. Sorry.

Terry, Thanks and glad you are fascinated with them. I obviously am (maybe weird, too). I do want people to realize what interesting creatures they are and that we need to do all we can to protect and encourage the bee population that we do have....Avoiding any pesticide use that we can. I know that is not always practical or possible, but we need to do all we can for them at this point. Not everyone is cut out to be a beekeeper and seeing them through the lens in this format makes learning about them interesting without the fear of that many stingers on the loose, so to speak.

 

What a nice group of fotos this time, C. That marching phenomenon is something to behold.
Your various shots really illustrate the march well.

So when the bees are "hanging out" some place and you want them to "march"...what is it that initiates, or makes them want to begin marching to the hive? This manoeuver sure saves you a lot of work?
Such interesting stuff.

 

Thanks S, the march begins when the bees recognize a cavern perhaps suitable for habitation... A few of them begin looking in and PERHAPS exude a pheromone to "call" the rest in behind them. I really am not positive. I sat the box down close to the swarm and went to the house to get a few things, by the time (no more than 5 min) I came back out a few of them were already marching in. I didn't do a whole lot to get them to go in this one, either. I noticed the post was loose so I gave it a gentle shake, knocking the bees down on the ground in front of the hive. Then all of them QUICKLY head on in. It is incredible to watch.

 

I see. Yes, it must be incredible to see.
I am just wondering what the next cool thing will be happening at your "bee ranch".

Keep us posted.

 

I have visions of 'little carolyn keiper' marching across, from that fence post, over to the bee hive tooting her 'little flute' while the little bees march, single file, right on her heals and into the hive. I can hear the bees saying, "Thank you for Spring cleaning our home and leading us back into it. We will reward you well, for your services" to carolyn keiper. "And we won't sting you."

Barb in Pa.