Jun

Weekly Inspection June 15th

Observations:

Weather: has been a mini heatwave with temperatures between 24°C – 28°C. No rain and forecast is for more of the same.

Forage: Pyracantha, geranium and cow parsley – elderflower is finishing. Bees very active and bringing in lots of pollen.

Decided to raise some queens using a Cloake board – started in 17th June.

17th – added 5th frame to Green as it was surplus to the queen rearing activity

Need to make up some more supers.

Looks like Indigo may be looking to produce a supersedure queen.

Hive Record

Colony	Q	BIAS	Brood	Stores	Comment	Next Inspection
Aqua	Y	Y	Just started laying 2 frames with eggs. No larvae yet.	Plenty of pollen and stores.	Took brace comb in roof and feeder, settled in. Was Headley Rd swarm	Check for continued expansion
Blue	Y	Y	Six frames of bias pattern expanding	Only 1 kg in super, but is being worked	Looks to be okay	Check to see if expansion is continuing
Denim	Y	Y	6 + 7 BIAS, slightly less than last week	About 4 kg is in super, added 2nd to Emerald	Plenty of pollen in bottom box, 5 Queen cups on one frame. Was Nuc 2	Check for any swarming indicators
Emerald	N	Y	9 + 7 BIAS, expanding from previous week. Need more laying space	Second, super 3/4 full so added third from Denim	Needed more laying space, so made boxes 12 frames. Exchanged 1 capped frame with Green	Check on laying space
Flax	N	Y	6 BIAS, expanded nicely from previous week	Super 2/3 full read the ad a second	Rearranged frames to give more laying space	Add second super
Green	Y	Y	2 BIAS, not expanded	Plenty in third frame	Added capped brood frame from denim	Check activity on foundation frame, strengthen if necessary
Honeydew	Y	Y	5 BIAS on 9 frames	Plenty on brood frames	Nice brood pattern	Add 2 frames to make up to 11
Indigo	Y	Y	4 + small patch on BIAS. 2 open charged queen cells taken down to 1 - close to being sealed.	About 1/3rd in super	Unite looks to have gone OK - but looks like a supersedure queen being raised	Leave for 2 weeks and check for queen(s)