I have a problem with carpenter bees going in and out of my hives. Are they robbing the hive's? If so what do I do about it? My bees don't seem to be fighting with them.[attachment=0][/attachment]
Maybe they're remodeling the nursery.
Oops. Sorry. I couldn't help it.
Is there a carpenter bee in the picture?
Some of my Italian drones are very dark like that, I don't have a pic of mine but here are some for reference....
(http://www.beesource.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=26614&d=1468711640)
(http://www.beesource.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=26615&d=1468711728)
Seriously, here a link to someone who makes carpenter bee traps. Very destructive bugs, if that's what you have.
http://www.myfrugalhome.com/how-to-build-a-carpenter-bee-trap/
Looks too elongated and long for a carpenter bee does not have the stubby abdomen that I am used to seeing on carpenter bees and not large enough... but I was not there....
If it actually is carpenter bees I would not worry. I do not think a hive of honey bees are going to stand by and watch a carpenter bee bore inside..
Billdeen
That is a drone bee going into your hive. That is a good sign. Nothing to worry.
Jim
Quote from: sawdstmakr on July 16, 2016, 09:07:10 PM
Billdeen
That is a drone bee going into your hive. That is a good sign. Nothing to worry.
Jim
Ditto on that . I was looking at the photo and was wandering if you were looking at that older drone just above the ladding board. A carpenter bee is about the size of Tootsie roll and about 3/4 to inch long furry blak with single yellow cross strip.
John
Quote from: divemaster1963 on July 16, 2016, 10:01:43 PM
Quote from: sawdstmakr on July 16, 2016, 09:07:10 PM
Billdeen
That is a drone bee going into your hive. That is a good sign. Nothing to worry.
Jim
Ditto on that . I was looking at the photo and was wandering if you were looking at that older drone just above the ladding board. A carpenter bee is about the size of Tootsie roll and about 3/4 to inch long furry blak with single yellow cross strip.
John
I figure that is the one she was looking at. Our carpenter bees don't have a yellow cross strip. Solid black abdomen
(http://i65.tinypic.com/16j0avb.jpg)
That's what I trying to say yellow on the upper part of body.. I get my thoughts a words together in week or two. :tongue:
John
Quote from: sawdstmakr on July 16, 2016, 09:07:10 PM
Billdeen
That is a drone bee going into your hive. That is a good sign. Nothing to worry.
Jim
Well that is a relief. I got all my robber screens made today after seeing them. I needed to do that anyway. I don't understand why today I started seeing them. I watch the hives every day. There seem to be quit a few going in and out of one hive. Thanks everyone for teaching me again
Quote from: divemaster1963 on July 16, 2016, 11:48:30 PM
That's what I trying to say yellow on the upper part of body.. I get my thoughts a words together in week or two. :tongue:
John
:wink:
Quote from: billdean on July 16, 2016, 11:55:18 PM
I watch the hives every day. There seem to be quit a few going in and out of one hive.
Take note of the time this happens then look at your other hives either sooner or later and see if the same thing is happening. We tend to look at our hive at the same time every day because of what controls our life. Try to look at different times and witness how things happen at different times for different hives. I have been fooled thinking one hive was stronger than another because I was always looking at the same time.
Quote from: Acebird on July 17, 2016, 09:14:43 AM
Quote from: billdean on July 16, 2016, 11:55:18 PM
I watch the hives every day. There seem to be quit a few going in and out of one hive.
Take note of the time this happens then look at your other hives either sooner or later and see if the same thing is happening. We tend to look at our hive at the same time every day because of what controls our life. Try to look at different times and witness how things happen at different times for different hives. I have been fooled thinking one hive was stronger than another because I was always looking at the same time.
Deffently ditto on this. Doing same thing has caught me off guard many time.
John