Weekly Inspection 18th April
Collecting pollen from dandelion
apiary news
Wally Shaw
Initial Inspection for 2024 Season
The early Spring weather has been very poor – lots of rain and cool temperature. Only now – mid-April have the temperatures started to get to 15°C. I decided to feed all of the colonies with Ambrosia and most took down 1Kg and 2 got through 1.5Kg.
Nearly had a swarm with Cyan which is the largest colony – 2 capped cells but queen and eggs present. If I had left it another day I think it would have tried to swarm despite queen being clipped. Lack of space likely to be the main trigger.
Needed to move the colony at my out apiary to a new position. As it was around 20m I’ve brought it back home for 3-4 weeks and will then move it back to its new position. Have moved Honeydew to the out apiary as I wanted more colonies at a 2nd site as a backup.
Given the reports of queen cells also being found by other beekeepers I have put out my bait hive which is earlier than I normally would.
Deadouts: Emerald – was a strong colony going into Winter. Seems to have petered out with only a few bees on the frames. Lots of stores left.
Blue – lots of dead bees on the floor, none on the frames. Was alive early Spring and had taken 1/4 block of Ambrosia down.
Forage: Lots of blossom out, strawberries already flowering and dandelion in abundance.
Weekly Inspection 22nd August
Weather: continues to be fine with the temperatures 20° to 22°C
Forage: Red, hot, poker, goldenrod, finishing Rebecca and Himalayan balsam.
Starting to feed the light colonies without supers. Concerned about Aqua as it looks to be shrinking and may need to unite with the Nuc.
inspection split into two parts because of the weather, so took a decision to unite Aqua nanda Nuc
Weekly Inspection 10th August
Weather: improved and temperatures, 18° to 22°C. Some heavy showers,
Forage: golden rod, knot weed, rosebay willow herb and borage
Starting to see foraging activity slow down. lots of wasps around
Weekly Inspection 31st July
Weather: cooler temperatures 20°C with lots of showers. Evenings starting to get chilly
Forage: Rosebay Willowherb, Echinacea, Runner beans, borage
Noticeably, less foraging activity taking place. Created a nuc from the Queen in the Apidea with frames from cyan and emerald Queen was laying in the Apidea.