Ken Parker asks about potential robbing of nucs being fed sugar syrup.
First, the fact that you are seeing 'yellow' bees entering and exiting the
hives, and you are supposed to have Carniolans, should not necessarily be of
concern.
Queens mate with up to 20 drones and they store the sperm in 'layers'. For
that reason, it is not at all unusual to see a mixture of colors among the
workers; they all have the same mother, but may have different fathers.
Color is just one inherited trait. Another is aggressiveness.
It is not at all unusual to have a gentle hive 'turn' aggressive, or vice
versa. Again, different fathers may account for that. After turning
aggressive, they may again turn back to gentle, etc. But I digress.
Look at the entrance to the hive. Are there bees bringing in pollen? If
so, you probably don't have anything to worry about. If not, you may.
Open the hive and lift out a frame or two from the center. See eggs or
young larvae? All is ok. Don't see any? Probably trouble.
Lift out an end frame. Lots of nectar or sealed honey? All is ok. No
nectar and cells open with ragged edges. Trouble.
If you see eggs or larvae, and end frames with lots of cells open with
ragged edges, you have robbing but it has not proceeded to the point of
ruining your hive. Immediately close the entrance to allow passage on only
one bee. Keep this way for two weeks, then reopen. Keep feeding.
Don't want to go into the hive for the suggested inspection? Please give
your bees and hives away to someone who will not be afraid. Beekeepers have
an obligation to regularly inspect their hives, which means a few stings are
inevitable.
Hope I have helped.
Lloyd
Lloyd Spear, Owner Ross Rounds, Inc.
Manufacturers of Ross Rounds Comb
Honey Equipment, Sundance Pollen Traps
and Custom Printer of Sundance Labels.
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