Mark, the pollen on the legs is indeed a good sign, as for the robber bees,
if they are infact robber bees, according to an aticle in a Bee Journel
about a year or so ago, they stated that robber bees would fly in a zig-zag
pattern while approaching the hive while the foragers fly straight in. Good
luck in identifing.
 
Chester Lauck
J&J Farm/Apiary
 
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> From: Mark Franklin Almond <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Feeding sugar syrup
> Date: Sunday, July 13, 1997 1:59 PM
>
> I have started two new hives which are Italians bees and the Queen is a
> Buckfast queen. The queens are laying a good brood pattern. My question
> is when I add another half gallon of sugar syrup, there is lots more
> activity at the entrance of each hive. Seem like that robber bees are
> coming in but there is no fighting at the entrances. Do bees load up with
> sugar syrup, leave the hive and then come back to place the sugar nectar
> in the storage cells? I see lots of bees with pollen on their back legs
> going in too. I know is going to be very productive next year if things
> go as they are now. This my first time trying the Buckfast Queens.
> All answers will help me learn more about THE WONDER WORLD OF BEEKEEPING
> as a hobby.
>
> Mark F. Almond
> Concord, NC