Hive #6 Difference since Carniolan Queen install

This is Hive #6 "Lost cause".  I would like to show you a before and after.  This is after installing a Carniolan Queen, and she has been in here since the end of July.  Pretty cool how about 90% of the bees noe are looking like Carniolans.

This is the same hive on 7/24/2014.  I had gone in to make sure she was out & alive.  What a difference!  Hope you enjoy!  =)

Seasons of Honeybees (Autumn)

My first submition to Hilltown Families as a contributing writer was posted yesterday.  Here is a link if you would like to check it out!  Enjoy!  =)

http://hilltownfamilies.wordpress.com/2014/09/22/seasons-of-honeybees/

Doug's last day with the bees

This is a tribute to Doug (My right hand man).  Friday is his last day working at WPI and yesterday was his last time going into the hives.  Sorry about the first picture, I couldn't get it to turn upright.  Be good Doug, keep doing what your doing & you will go far in life.  Take care & keep in touch.

Drone graveyard

As I was saying, it is tough to be a Drone. This is what I found yesterday.  Looks like a bee graveyard to me.  My friend Doug thinks a bee dog house is in order for these males.  Lol!  But to be serious.  In the bee world, if you are not useful, or obsolete, you are no longer need and will be removed.  It doesn't matter if you are the Queen, Worker, or Drone, the colony must survive at all cost and if death of a member is required it will be done.  It is the way it is.

Worker bee removing a Drone

It is tough beeing a Drone (Male bee).  As the season ends there will no longer be any use for Drones in the hive.  They will no longer need them for fertilization and the Workers (Female bees) are trying to store as much food as possible.  Drones do not help, they consume.  So the Workers will start kicking them out, letting them starve, or possibly dismembering them.  As shown here: A Worker bee just wrestled a Drone bee out of the hive.  It can be a tough world to be a bee but they will sacrafice all for the remaining colony to survive.  Enjoy!

Bee ghost

In trying to get a shot of the bees coming in for a landing (Hive #5 "Bear Survivers").  This is what I got!  Looks like a couple of bee spirits still working even after death.  lol  Thought I should share.

Carniolan on Sedum

Found my first bunch of my Carniolan Honey Bees foraging on Sedum! Pretty cool! Enjoy! =)

Old comb

These are some pics of old comb I needed to use. Great display of comb building.  Notice the shape of the naturally built comb.  That is how it would be done without the aid of humans.  This is why top bar hives are more of a natural home for the bees.  Some day I will experiment with a top bar hive.  Enjoy!

Sunflower

My bees are working the sunflowers around the garden. Thank you Briant,for these amazing pics.

The importance of Goldenrod in MA

I know I have shared a few goldenrod pics. But, I must say, goldenrod is another important plant where I live. This plant serves as a survival tool & honey flow for the bees & the keeper.  The last honey flow before the harsh winter. Great honey source & great source for pollen. I can already smell the honey outside the hives!  =) Also, many different insects are all over this stuff!

Golderod!

Look at that stinky Goldenrod.  Man they love this stuff.  Honey flow here we come!  Thanks for the pics Briant.  Enjoy! =)

Queen Hypothesis

I have been trying to come up with a hypothesis for why these two queens look so different.  My thought is Queen #6 (Top) was mated purebred Cariolan (prior to sending) and Queen #1 (Lower) was sent to me as a virgin and mated on site with my Italians.  Hopefully this is true because I seem to be really fond of the colony in hive #1 and I believe them to be of really good stock. =) 

Goldenrod

Look what we have blooming! Goldenrod!!!!! Nice!

Hive #6 (Lost cause)

Originally considered a lost cause.  Hive #6 may end up being successful in surviving. The colony seems to have taken to her & she is laying like crazy. Enjoy! =)

Hive #1 Queen

This is Hive #1s queen.  Plenty of honey stores, plenty of pollen for rearing, and plenty of places to lay.  Yet no eggs.  She looks fertile and should be laying like crazy any day now.  =)

Southwick Hives #1, #2, #3, & #6

So I check Hives #1-#3, & #6. Hive #1 has a queen now & looks healthy yet no eggs yet. My hope is that they will be booming next time I go in. Hive #2 & #3 are doing great & look real healthy.  Hive #6 was considered a lost cause (Captured a small swarm with no queen).  Added a queen & bees & brood.  Now I think they may have a chance.  Sweet!  =)  Thank you Dougie for the pics.

Carniolan queen/ Italian wokers

Can't wait to see what happens next.  Carniolans & Italians!

Chain of life

Chain of life for a bee.  All work together for the greater good and will sacrafice all for 1.

Carniolan Installation

So I am trying a new type of bee (new to me). I installed Carniolan queens in Hive #1 & new hive #6.  They are from http://www.mikesbeesandhoney.com/products of Ohio.  Really nice guy & very helpful.  Hoping this type of bee will make a good fit for MA. 

P.S. Hive #4 has made thier own queen & she is laying like crazy.  Enjoy! =)

Cucumber

Cucumber! They are working this stuff hard. Going to be a good crop this year. =)

Spotted Knapweed

Spotted Knapweed! The bees love this stuff. Some say it's a nuisance, I say give me more. Enjoy! =)

The Whalley Hive (Hive #2)

This is a good example of a healthy hive.  Capped Brood/Larva in center of the frame, Pollen & Honey stores on the outer parts of the frame.  Got to say he is one uping me with this one.  Deffinently a text book hive.  Guess wisdom does come with time!  Enjoy!  =)

Farm Team "Dougie"

Farm team member "Dougie" picking squash. Honey bees & local bumble bees are working the squash and cucumbers.  Going to be a real good crop this year! Looking forward to it.  Enjoy

WPI Farm Team

WPI farm team less Mr. Whalley. Starting left to right: Mr. Dutton "Ron", Dave "Slug", Me "Jake The Snake", Brian "Briant", and Doug "Dougie".  Great working at a machine shop where lunch break becomes walking, tending to the garden, taking care of bees...... Feel very fortunate to be part of this group. =)

Gorging oneself

When you open a hive sometimes you will break burr comb.  Look at that crystal clear beautiful honey!  Probably clover or sumac honey.  A bee has a natural instinct to gorge themself. Why you ask? #1 reason, they are getting prepared to leave at a moments notice (smoke from a smoker acts like a forest fire, and you are tearing apart thier home), which actually makes them easier to work with. Don't you seem more dosile with a full belly? =)

Wings on display

Beautiful display of wings in action.  Opened Hive #1 & no eggs in sight.  I will give them until the end of the week and if there are no eggs I will have to purchase a queen.  If I do not they most deffinently will parish. =( 

Thank you for the pic Brian & I hope you all enjoy! =)

Hive #5 queen

This is a pic Amy got of hive #5's queen. Thank you, glad to see them surviving, and hope you enjoy. ;-)

Bear survivors

Hive #5, Which got tore to pieces by a bear. I was able to save the queen and some of the colony. Now they seem to be doing great (dispite what they have been through). Hopefully they will be strong enough to make it through winter.

Hive #4 in Huntington

Went into hive #4 & #5 today. This is hive #4. This colony should be booming, but it is not. Guess I lost the queen some how? No eggs, no larva, no pupa, which means no brood.  I dont get it. It had to have happened when I moved it about 3 weeks ago.

My boss is right, either I am the luckiest bee keeper or the un-luckiest. But I am getting good at making emergency queens. Lol

Family photo! lol

This is a pic of a worker coming in loaded last Fall.  Brian photo shopped it.  I thought it would be pretty cool if I had a pic on my wall like that. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!  =)

Hoary Alyssum

Found this bee on Hoary Alyssum. Hoary Alyssum is toxic to horses & kind of makes me wonder. Could it be toxic to humans? I have been trying to do some research to find out, but I haven't found anything out yet. If you know, please let me know. Thanks in advance. Nice pic Brian!