I checked the hives today. The 4 week old split is doing great with lots of brood and drawn comb, very gentle as well.
The "mother hive" however was a different story. Although very active and full of honey, the bees were quite aggresive and started pinging me right off the bat. I thought I'd better dig a little deeper to find out what would make a normally calm hive react like that and on the third frame in I found it....a mud dobber's(Dirt dauber to some) nest right on the frame! I opened this hive 2 weeks ago and it wasn't there then so this (these?) wasp(s) have been busy.
I would have thought that the bees would repel the wasp(s) but it looks like they just stood there and watched it happen. It appears as if they actually capped the wasp brood with wax!
Anyone else ever have this happen?
Peace be yours,
Scott
Now that is just plain weird! Did you get a picture?
Jody
Yes, I got a pic I just haven't had luck getting it posted. I'll try again tomorrow :)
Peace,
Scott
I get the daubers mud cakes when my boxes are setting away for the winter....In the summer tho, I get one every now and then.....The bees dont seem to mind the daubers, but they dont let the wasps stay around at all! They dont mind the roaches and fly spiders either....But the fly catcher spider only eats a bee every now and then.....Mostly they eat a roach...or some other bug from no telling where it comes from.
your friend,
john
I have seen lots of the mud dobbers around the hives, but so far the bees are keeping them out. I have had more troubles with the bumbles than anything.
Bees like to cover things with prop. I had a skink get into one hive and I think the bees killed it, as it was covered with prop. when I found it.
Brenda
I took this picture inside of Bud's shed last time I was there: http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/h4KBtw1iILG_r1sR6ysnhA?feat=directlink
They don't really seem to bother anything or anyone really. Bud sure seems to be cultivating a nice collection of them! :-D
...JP
Wow, I've never seen anything like those. Guess we don't get them around Seattle. Do they sting?
SH
If you don't aggravate them they don't sting, in fact I don't recall anyone ever being stung by a mud dauber.
...JP
Wow! Buds got a great place there! The pic looks just like my shed too!
your friend,
john
Quote from: johnnybigfish on August 09, 2009, 09:13:59 PM
Wow! Buds got a great place there! The pic looks just like my shed too!
your friend,
john
Bud has a really nice set up, his place is a whole lot of fun. You should come to the gathering next year John, we'd love to see you!
...JP
I have had the mud daubers in my nuc boxes. I just cut out their nest. I haven't seem them back since.
Mike.