First inspection of swarm hive (pics)

SgtMaj · April 12, 2009, 09:26:18 PM

Here are some pics from my first inspection of the swarm hive. Although I took at least 50 pics, only about 10 were in focus... of those, these were the best:

This was of a bee (on the right) that looked like it had messed up eyes. I found several like this, maybe 1 out of every 50 to a hundred bees was like this. The abdomen also looks a little underdeveloped. I'm not really sure what the deal here is:

Ok, so here's what I REALLY wanted to see, an egg! I'll call it my easter egg.

The upper left comb is the sum total of the new comb the bees have built so far.

Found the queen, but this was the only pic of her that was anywhere near in focusL

Pond Creek Farm · April 12, 2009, 10:02:28 PM

No swarms here yet. Feels more like March than April. I hope I can catch one too.

dpence · April 12, 2009, 10:27:52 PM

Quote from: Pond Creek Farm on April 12, 2009, 10:02:28 PM
No swarms here yet. Feels more like March than April. I hope I can catch one too.

Yes indeed, it feels like March in Missouri.

David

Bee-Bop · April 12, 2009, 10:57:38 PM

A Cold Wet March in Missouri !

SgtMaj;
Hope you have better luck then your previous bee keeping endever !

Bee-Bop

annette · April 13, 2009, 12:07:25 AM

Love the photos you took. Keep them coming and don't worry about every little thing. I personally do not see anything wrong with the bees in the photo.

dgc1961 · April 13, 2009, 06:01:40 PM

How long did you wait to inspect the hive the first time.

1reb · April 13, 2009, 07:21:41 PM

great looking swarm!! Glad to see you back, SgtMaj

Johnny

SgtMaj · April 14, 2009, 03:39:50 AM

Quote from: dgc1961 on April 13, 2009, 06:01:40 PM
How long did you wait to inspect the hive the first time.

Exactly one week (almost to the hour)

SgtMaj · April 14, 2009, 03:46:28 AM

Quote from: annette on April 13, 2009, 12:07:25 AMI personally do not see anything wrong with the bees in the photo.

It's not the best photo, but it was the best I took... basically the one on the left in the top picture looks normal, but the one on the right's eyes are maybe a quarter the size of the one on the left. The abdomen is also slightly flatter. It was also several bees like that... somewhere between 1 in 50 and 1 in 100. Today I saw one out foraging though, so it doesn't seem to be stopping them from doing their duties.

Overall I liked what I saw.

One more good thing, I couldn't find any varroa mites in the pictures (which were a lot bigger before I shrank them to post them, so I could have found them if they were there to be found).

Pond Creek Farm · April 15, 2009, 12:08:42 AM

So how did you catch the swarm? We love the stories of the hunt:)

SgtMaj · April 15, 2009, 04:58:33 AM

Quote from: Pond Creek Farm on April 15, 2009, 12:08:42 AM
So how did you catch the swarm? We love the stories of the hunt:)

Placed an ad the afternoon before, next day lady calls with a swarm in a bush. So I headed out, took a look, first tried to find the queen, but gave that up fast, then just shook the swarm down into the hive, dropped the lid on it once the rest crawled in, and viola! For a first swarm call ever, it went so well I think I came off looking like a pro... made me feel GOOD.

Here are the swarm catch pics:

JP · April 15, 2009, 10:11:51 AM

Great job on the swarm catch Sarge, glad you are enjoying your bees.

...JP

EasternShore · April 15, 2009, 07:26:40 PM

WTG SARGE!!!!
Glad your back...

Something you might try next time...set an empty med or deep on top of the frame filled box...acts like a funnel.
I also always carry 2 covers to keep them inside...only in cool weather tho..summertime they will overheat. I have a special screened cover for those times to keep them all in till I get home..

Congrats...oh...
feed feed feed...I went thru 300 lbs of sugar last year for 3 swarms..but they are booming this spring...plenty of honey left..till they layed 4 frames of brood..all of it was gone after that.

greenismycolor · April 15, 2009, 11:07:31 PM

B E A U T FULLL Sgt. Maj. Congratulations!!!!!