In the past whenever I've been to inspect the bees, I've always done a full hive inspection, lifting out each frame - much to the annoyance of the bees who are trying so hard to gunk everything together with bracecomb and propolis. As I was driving to school (the joy of going to school during the holidays!) I thought that the only reason I'm doing a full hive inspection, really, is so that I've done a full hive inspection. There's no real reason to do it: the bees aren't going to swarm, the queen is fine and if there are plenty of bees, then everything should be ok. I don't want my beekeeping to become too invasive, as I'm sure the bees basically know what to do and don't need me telling them (not that I can waggle-dance).
So, in a break with tradition I thought this time I'd only look at what really interested me: the honey crop in the supers. Thought this 'inspection light' might make my bees happier, too.
As I wouldn't be in the brood chamber, I thought I'd try leather gloves again, just to see if they're really that bad. They are. Could hardly lift a frame out with them on.
Smoker went brilliantly (I had had some difficulties with it in the past) and the bees were well-behaved, really.
Moon has a super nearly full (so that means some honey!). There's still space on the outward frames and not all honey is capped yet. Hope they can do that till next week, when I have to take the honey off. Weather looks ok for that. The Moon hive was not nearly as busy as last time, so I assume the queen has reduced her laying a bit.
Star is not doing much with the supers. Instead of focusing on a few frames and getting those done properly, the bees are drawing out comb on most frames, but always only on one side. I'm sure that wind, the earth's magnetic field or moisture have something to do with this orientation, but it's weird. There'll be no honey from Star, I fear. My poor Star-struck bees. Sometimes I think a task-force from the Moon might help them sort themselves out.
What was interesting, was that throughout my inspection quite a number of wasps buzzed about the place, making a general nuisance of themselves. At one time I saw a bee and wasp locked in close combat on the ground. Unfortunately the wasp got away, as did the bee, fortunately (lovely chiasmus, there; can't get the English teacher out of me). Because of this, the bees flying around were a lot more aggressive and ready to sting. My clothing was stung a number of times, but the fascinating thing was that most of the bees went for the little bee emblem a friend of mine had made me and sewn onto the suit. They couldn't sting that, though, as the wool was too high for them to get a purchase on the suit (and skin!) beneath, which was lucky for all involved.
Some enormous, mutant killer hornet, they must have thought.
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| The bees' sworn enemy - with apologies for the lack of focus. |
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