Guard Bees!!

[poka-bee]

I had the most fun the last couple of nights with the bees.  Just before it gets dark I noticed that in hive G I could see little feet sticking out from the entrance.  Being nosy as I am I got down & looked in, then experimented by breathing in the entrance.  They really buzzed & a few poked their heads out. It's true they don't like human breath! Then I stuck my finger in front & tapped.  They riled about, changing positions.  I put my finger right up to one & it struck both front feet out as if to scare me or push me away, kinda like rabbits do.  I did it to 3-4 different ones & they all did it.  How cool is that?  Of course I had to torment oops,  :roll: I mean experiment/w hive B also.  They stayed further away but buzzed much louder when I breathed on em.  Both hives had orientation flights today @ different times, bout 2 hours apart.  A good portion of my original bees should be gone by now, hives slowed down some, building slacked off the last couple of weeks but going gangbusters now.  Tomorrow I'll see how loud they get after having a mikes hard lemonade lime slurpee!! :evil:
I put a community feeder on the deck so I can watch em eat, they do get fuller looking, their little antennae waving about, the proboscis looks kind of feathery on the end, or maybe it's just really tiny. Someone said in a post that drone comb looks like kix, IT DOES!!!  Was really easy to see the difference & it was on the edges of the frames.  I took one apart to see!  It was big, & I didn't see any of the mites on or in it.  I haven't actually seen any drones yet, nor the queen but I'm sure I will see them soon as there are more hatching & I get better @ manipulating. I didn't smoke em last inspection either.  I fiddle & take longer trying to keep that darn thing going so just went in.  Was fine, actually the bees were quieter..they buzz & run around from the smoke.  I'm sure things will change once they get to fighting weight & have stores put up.  Off to bed, I was just so excited about my little guard bees!  Jody

[Sean Kelly]

Hey Jody!

You're nuts!  lol.  Poking your poor guard bees like that.  lol

You're still feeding?  My new packages that we got at the same time quit taking syrup and have two deep supers completely drawn out already.  We live so close to each other, I figured our bees would be doing the same thing.  Be careful on the community feeding, may encourage robbing which sucks.

Can't wait to see your bees sometime and show little Gracie your koi fish!!!  If the weather is nice before the next Pierce County Beekeepers meeting, maybe I'll come over early and take a peek at your bees.  My turn to drive to the meeting anyway.  lol

Sean Kelly

[Cindi]

Jody, see, you're havin' fun, fun, fun, in that sun.....good that you are experimenting with your bees, that is how you get to know them, their antics, how they live, how they work and react.  I think that is one of the most important tools for the new beekeepers (and ones that have had bees).  Get in with them, check them out, get to know what things look like.  Yeah!!!  You ain't seen nuthin' yet, girl!!!!  The adventures in the life of the honeybee are just beginning, you are under their spell.....you know that by now, have that most beautiful and wonder-filled day, Cindi

[Rodni73]

The guard bees in my hive stand at the entrance like Japanese Sumo wrestlers! Yesterday I sat and observed the hive for 2 hours (cigar "Ashton Maduro 60 ring" in hand & a good bottle of Cali red wine) Those guards checked every bee that went in through the reduced entrance! It was amazing...!

-Rodni