the honey's gone!

dish · August 02, 2009, 03:38:54 AM

I am a first-year beekeeper with one hive. I'm very worried about my colony. I think their honey is being robbed.

I started with a 3-lb package of bees in late April. They started off building comb well in an 8-frame super. But when they'd nearly filled that and I added a second super, the comb-building really slowed down. I've seen the queen whenever I've gone in every week or two, and there is always new larvae. She seems to be doing fine.

I posted to the organic forum two weeks ago (I'm using foundationless frames) as I was concerned that they've only built comb on three frames in the second super. Although, at least when I checked those combs two weeks ago they were heavy with honey.

The hive is on a hillside with 60 lavender plants that have been blooming profusely for the last month. The plants are literally covered with thousands of bees right now. When I went to check my hive today, I was hoping that they would have built up more comb to take advantage of the flow.

Instead I found that not only had they built no more comb--but the three frames were completely light and empty. Should I assume that the honey they had two weeks ago has been robbed?

About a month ago when I was watching the hive, I noticed some larger bees flying in. They were buzzing noisily as they went in and out, and I assumed my bees were kicking them out, although I never saw direct evidence of this. I took off my entrance reducer because a beekeeping friend was concerned that they needed more ventilation. Now I'm worried that this was a mistake.

Yesterday I was watching the hive for about five minutes, and again I saw one or two bigger bees going in. I wondered if they were drones, but I don't think so. They look like very big honeybees. What concerns me is that they seemed to be going in and out freely, without any trouble from my bees.

I'm just confounded. I put the entrance reducer back on today, but it's on the larger setting. Should I put it back to the smallest opening? And should I feed my bees again? I stopped a month ago when all the lavender started blooming, but now I'm worried about them having little food. Which seems crazy given the flow right outside their door.

Maybe the fact that they're located next to all that lavender is a problem. There really are thousands of bees out there each day, of many different varieties. Maybe my young colony is in too vulnerable a place.

The good news is that I'm in Northern California, and there's almost always something blooming here. They won't need as much honey to get through the winter as they'd need somewhere else. But they need some!

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Patricia

Vibe · August 02, 2009, 06:15:50 AM

Large and noisy fits the description of Drones perfectly. I would suspect that they belong to the hive. As to the disappearing honey? I've only been working with bees for 2 years myself. Two of my 3 hives have produced a little over 7 gallons so far this year - my FIL who has had bees for much longer has 5 hives and we've only gotten one pint from those. Go figure. I certainly don't know.

Kathyp · August 02, 2009, 11:01:34 AM

they may have used it. if the flow is light and the hive is growing, they will get into stores.

california is a big state. we have a good number of members from CA. if you can narrow down your location a bit, someone from your area may be able to give you better info about what is going on in your neighborhood.

CBEE · August 02, 2009, 02:02:48 PM

I know it doesn't seem to make sence but just because bees are on lots of blooming flowers doesn't mean they are bringing much of anything back. I would say the big bees are jsut drones. They are big and noisey.. kind of like comparing a B17 bomber to P51 fighter. Put some food on them and if they suck it down like there is no tomorow then you have your answer. We have plenty of things blooming right now but not enough for them to build comb. I have 2 new packages and they have been sucking down the feed like crazy and building up nicley. Be careful cause if they are REALLY hungry they can be a little cranky like me :-D The swarm I caught this year is that way. I got the snot stung out of me yesterday when I thought I could pick up the top and put some feed in with no smoke real quick.. While I was messing with the top side in less than a minute they were boiling out the bottom :shock:

annette · August 03, 2009, 02:58:35 AM

Hi Patricia

My name is Annette and I live in Placerville California, North of Sacramento. Where do you live??? Anywhere near me??? I am going on my 4th season with the bees and so I still consider myself new at this, although I have learned a lot these past few years.

I know that near me, things are pretty much dried up right now. I just checked my hives and they seem to be eating the stores they have gathered this Spring. I have started to feed 2 hives that had only 1-2 frames of honey in them. I know my bees were also on the lavender when it started to bloom last month, and they were making honey a month ago. I have noticed that they stop bringing in nectar around this time of year and my hives are not building up any wax combs either anymore. I have been removing the empty frames that they haven't used.

The main flow is over near me, and now I wait and see what they will bring in for the Fall, if anything. Start to feed them if they do not have enough honey to eat. To get through the winter near me, each hive needs about 35 lbs of honey.

Take care and stay in touch

Annette

dish · August 03, 2009, 11:12:14 AM

Thanks so much to all of you who responded. You've been very reassuring.

I've come to agree with those of you who said the big bees were drones. I sat out by the hive yesterday and confirmed that. While I'd been able to identify the drones during an inspection, it was harder when they were flying in and out so quickly!

I also agree that the bees have probably gotten into their own stores. I don't see any other signs of robbing, and my bees are very calm and unbothered with my inspections--which I don't think they would be if they were getting robbed.

This just isn't a pattern I'd expected. The books make it sound like comb and honey gets built up steadily, unless there's a problem with the hive. I don't see a problem--the queen is there, she's doing her job, the bees all seem busy and content. They just don't seem to be building comb and filling it quickly.

I started feeding them again yesterday, and will continue. (I stopped a month ago once my lavender hillside was in bloom. I wish I hadn't, but you live and learn!)

Annette, I'm in Oakland. There are still lots of bee-favored plants blooming around here--including my 60 lavender plants, which are still being harvested by many, many bees. I see a steady stream of bees flying into my hive carrying pollen during the day, so they're doing something.

I can live with them not being very productive their first year, so long as they aren't in danger of not surviving. Thanks all, for making me realize that my problem isn't completely atypical.

annette · August 03, 2009, 01:41:43 PM

I used to live in Oakland before I got married.

Yes Oakland has a much different climate than we do up here. You might find they start to make lots of honey again this year. So many different things blooming where you are for sure.

Take Care
Annette

Eshu · August 04, 2009, 10:36:24 AM

It sounds like you are on the right track. 60 lavendar plants seems like a lot of forage to us, but it isn't enough to keep them going and build comb unless there are other flowers going as well.