So I don't even have bees yet but I bought a bunch of used woodenware etc. so I have been scorching the used pieces it in my garage.
For the last couple of days I have been noticing a honey bee here and there on the boxes etc. well today there are by my guess a couple of hundred in a medium box that has gunky used comb in it . I was real surprised when I pulled up a frame and I saw about 50 bees on it then pulled another and the same I quit looking after that because they started flying around LOL
Are they just cleaning the comb?
Probably so since it is a little late for a swarm. News have a strong attraction to bees and anything that has held bees. I keep a few empties stacked on my porch (no comb or wax) and I always spot a few checking them out every day.
I would suspect so. My guess is that in the spring time you will have some free bees moving in.
Its probably not a swarm thats moved in being this late in the year, but hey, stranger things have happened. One thing for sure though, you definitely have a hive thats reasonably close. Build you a swarm trap or two and hang for next year.
Ok I went to go feed the feral cats and I could hear buzzing from the garage so I looked and there are even more bees so many more I can hear them from 4ft away. I tried to look in the box but could not get a good look but I could see bees between all ten frames. I should try and get some pictures. I'll check when it gets dark to see if they are still there.
if they are still there tonight, you attracted a late swarm. if they are gone (most of them) after dark, it's just hungry bees hoping to find some leftovers.
Honeybees are hoarders. If flows slow down,they will seek out other nearby sources such as other hives. You can see weak hives get robbed this time of year . And how much weaker can you get than an empty hive box? Be careful,yellow jackets and wasps will also be hitting the sweets if they are hungry.
I have seen a lot less bald faced hornets the last two weeks.
If they are clustered you may have a swarm. If they are working, they are gathering propolis.
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesmisc.htm#propolis (http://www.bushfarms.com/beesmisc.htm#propolis)
http://www.bushfarms.com/images/RosinWaxAsPropolis.jpg (http://www.bushfarms.com/images/RosinWaxAsPropolis.jpg)
I checked at 10PM no bees, so it is not a swarm just bees getting whatever they want to get and taking it back home. it will be fun to watch them for awhile maybe I can learn something but I am going to move the box out of garage to the outside front of the garage :) I did how ever find my missing chicken she was sleeping on the lawn mower seat.
it's a good sign. you have bees around. put any boxes that you are not using, out there early in spring. you may catch a swarm or two.