12.16.2011
12.01.2011
In the 20's Last Night- but Still a Few Bees on the Feeders
11.14.2011
The Bee's Honors
“The bee is more honored than other animals,
not because she labors,
but because she labors for others”
-- Saint John Chrysostom
11.06.2011
11.04.2011
Covered Quiet Hives
At the beekeepers club meeting last night, several members said that they had hives that had been robbed. What was most interesting is, that the further west that they were from me, the earlier in the month they had their hives robbed. Most had one or two hives robbed of several healthy hives. Most said it was the little wild bees or "german" bees.So I guess that the drought is a part of it all. I felt not alone in my dilemma, especially since I had already shut down the hives to one thimble sized entrance before the robbing began. They also confirmed that the hives could be robbed and killed in a few days as mine were.
That is one of the things that is great about being member of a great group of beekeepers is that they understand all the crazy things that can happen. Their care, compassion and love of their bees, as well as their immense knowledge and many lifetimes worth of experiences humbles me always. Plus they all have a great sense of humor too, which helps when you are facing a robbed hive situation!
That is one of the things that is great about being member of a great group of beekeepers is that they understand all the crazy things that can happen. Their care, compassion and love of their bees, as well as their immense knowledge and many lifetimes worth of experiences humbles me always. Plus they all have a great sense of humor too, which helps when you are facing a robbed hive situation!
From Brushy Mountain Bees- Important News Report by Dan Rather on Pesticides, Honeybees and CCD
If you don't believe the beekeepers, who are and have been seeing this firsthand-
Then maybe a man in a nice suit with a low voice in front of a camera at a desk can help you understand it.
Here is Dan Rather's report.
Then maybe a man in a nice suit with a low voice in front of a camera at a desk can help you understand it.
Here is Dan Rather's report.
Bee Aware from Greg Stanley on Vimeo.
10.29.2011
Photos of the Robbed Hives - VIEWER WARNING-not very pretty pictures
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Exhausted Honeybee |
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The only honey comb left in Luba's Hive |
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One of three clusters that are left in the hive |
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Landing Board Misery |
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Thousands of dead or dying bees on the bottom of Luba's Hive |
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Just inside the landing board excluder on Luba's Hive |
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One inch think - dead bees ( I had already swept out the top/front part before I opened it) |
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large exterior view of bees caught trying to get out through the cracks inbetween the supers |
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close up of bees stuck in between supers on Luba's Hive I let them out and they flew away |
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totally clear bottom board. (!?!) |
10.28.2011
Very, Very Sad News
After being attacked and fighting the agressive invading bees,
thousands of my bees are now dead, or dying.
The hives that were full of honey and pollen are empty just last week,
are now empty.
Juts a few frames of caped brood remain.. and one frame of capped honey
and some half frames of pollen and uncapped honey..
Thousands of dead bees were all on the bottom of the hives,
and of course some outside, along with yellow jackets.
even with a thimble sized opening...
It happened so quickly.
I cleaned and downsized the hives and left the bees with some feed to help them recover.
I will check for the queens tomorrow to see if they survived.
thousands of my bees are now dead, or dying.
The hives that were full of honey and pollen are empty just last week,
are now empty.
Juts a few frames of caped brood remain.. and one frame of capped honey
and some half frames of pollen and uncapped honey..
Thousands of dead bees were all on the bottom of the hives,
and of course some outside, along with yellow jackets.
even with a thimble sized opening...
It happened so quickly.
I cleaned and downsized the hives and left the bees with some feed to help them recover.
I will check for the queens tomorrow to see if they survived.
10.27.2011
Bees on the Roof of the Hive and Below the Landing Board
Swarm on the Hive- Robber Bees Trying to Get In
Yep they are in the process of being Swarmed and Robbed.
Bees are everywhere trying to get access to the honey in the hives.
They are even under the hive trying to get in through the screen!
I closed up the hive yesterday before it got really ugly...
I smoked them
They did nothing.
I sprayed them with mint and water.
They just laughed.
I turned on the sprinkler
and they have mostly gone away.
for now...
Bees are everywhere trying to get access to the honey in the hives.
They are even under the hive trying to get in through the screen!
I closed up the hive yesterday before it got really ugly...
I smoked them
They did nothing.
I sprayed them with mint and water.
They just laughed.
I turned on the sprinkler
and they have mostly gone away.
for now...
Robber Bees on Empty Frame
These robber bees were all over this empty frame
within two seconds of me laying it down.
within two seconds of me laying it down.
10.26.2011
Very Odd Bee Activity This Morning
Once again the bees are hanging out on the north side and the top of the hive like they did before the Washington/ VA / PA earthquake.
They are also bearding on the front of the hive and a few are flying around it.
I checked the inside and they seem fine on the brood comb..
But there were lots of bees on the bottom board trying to get in through the screening!
They seem to be doing battle with each other, that worries me that it may be an outside group trying to robb Luba's hive.
Anya's is fine.
Which is odd, because they are right next to each other (?)
so I dusted them a bit with powdered sugar & trust that they will survive alright.
I am sure glad that I closed down the entrance on both hives.
I did not have time to take photos-
It is suppose to turn cold this weekend again.
So I will check the hives again tomorrow and see what they are up to
if anything...
They are also bearding on the front of the hive and a few are flying around it.
I checked the inside and they seem fine on the brood comb..
But there were lots of bees on the bottom board trying to get in through the screening!
They seem to be doing battle with each other, that worries me that it may be an outside group trying to robb Luba's hive.
Anya's is fine.
Which is odd, because they are right next to each other (?)
so I dusted them a bit with powdered sugar & trust that they will survive alright.
I am sure glad that I closed down the entrance on both hives.
I did not have time to take photos-
It is suppose to turn cold this weekend again.
So I will check the hives again tomorrow and see what they are up to
if anything...
10.24.2011
Bees on the Hwy in this Unfortunate Crash
One of the risks in transporting colonies
10.18.2011
More from the 15th Annual Field Day at the USDA Baton Rouge Honey Bee Lab
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Honeybees in flight |
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Delicious Honey Drops on Bee gloves |
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The Smoker- a beekeepers essential tool |
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bees buzzing a beekeeper's glove |
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Louisiana Honeybees |
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Wonderfully designed Hive stands |
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Bee hives in place |
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Bees in the field on stands |
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More bees in the field |
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a group learning about bees |
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another view of a bee field |
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bees on the wax |
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Marked Queen Bee on brood comb |
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Working the hives |
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Side view of the frame |
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Newly re-marked Queen- She is so tiny!!! |
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Front view of the hive |
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Honeycomb on plastic frames |
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Brood comb |
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Lecture on Essentials |
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How to light a smoker |
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Hive beetle basics |
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Amazing and incredibly informative lecture by D. Pollet on plants for bees in Louisiana and their distribution statewide. I bought his book. If you keep bees in Louisiana, you should buy it too! |
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