we have drones here in my area!
checked a big hive 3 days ago and had alot of drones too young to fly but there there!
gonna be grafting sooner than i thought!
come on warm weather!
bailey
same here bailey ,checked 10 hives today and have drones in everyone with alot of caped drone cells.looking to do some grafting from one of my best hive. ...schawee
Have not seen any drones here yet but was wondering how will this big cold front affect them if at all after this warm up that we have had down South?
vmmartin, most likely it won't affect a thing. If the hive still has adequate stores and the bad weather is not severe or prolonged they will keep building for spring.
It's interesting to me that some how the bees know long before I do that a flow is about to start and begin rearing brood including drones in preparation for it. I wonder what the signals are?? Day length? Some sort of unnoticed signal (by me anyway) from the plants like a certain scent or taste? Whatever it is the bees seem to pick up on it and gear up for the season...raising the population and spreading drones for swarm season. I'm sure some jump the gun to their detriment too.
All I know is that when the bees start getting ready, I better be getting ready!
Scott
Almost time to start making splits, likely within ten days depending on the weather.
...JP
I think im going to do a split on wednesday or thursday this week
Scott. I agree with you about them knowing when it is about to start. I believe it is because they are infinitely more "in tune" with what is going on around them and that the "get ready" is designed into them so that they don't miss the flow. Kind of like those panda bears sensing something before the big earthquake. I saw something about it on the news the other day. As usual, here we are trying to figure out bees. :-\
to all of my northern friends, sorry in advance for this :evil:
after all the confirmations of spring having begun to sprung around here all i can say is
ITS ON !! WOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :piano: :piano:
bailey
Sure, rub it in. Maybe I should take all my vacation time now and come down and give you guys some help...LOL :-D
its fun when we get together in the early season down here!
jp,bud,allen all came down during split season last year, it was great!
bailey
Quote from: bailey on February 01, 2011, 01:50:20 PM
to all of my northern friends, sorry in advance for this :evil:
bailey
I could be wrong about this, but don't the northern guys make up for your early start by bringing in more honey in the summer? If this is about honey, who is doing better over all? :evil: :evil: