Subject: | |
From: | |
Reply To: | |
Date: | Mon, 12 Apr 1999 22:44:14 -0700 |
Content-Type: | text/plain |
Parts/Attachments: |
|
|
Hello,
I have one hive that I started from a package one year ago. The hive is
very very strong, yeilding over 200 lb of surplus honey last year even
though I am a beginner and they had to draw out all the comb, etc. On March
first I went into the hive and it was very crowded. It appeared to me that
they were filling the upper brood chamber (I use two deeps) with nectar as
soon as a cell was empty. The bees were dive bombing my veil and really
upset by my presence in the hive which I attributed to the cool temperature.
I didn't see any newly layed eggs in the upper box but figured the queen had
been forced down, I didn't go into the lower box. I have never seen a queen
cell but did see some suspicious looking burr comb bits. I added a honey
super to try and hold them back. Since then the weather has been cold, many
nights in the thirties, rainy days in the forties to low fifties.
Today when I opened the hive I went through both boxes and couldn't find any
brood. Lots of bees, honey, pollen, nectar, but no brood, and the bees were
still very aggressive. Should I order a new queen ASAP? Should I wait a
week or so and check again to see if a new queen has started laying?
I am assuming that a swarm departed without my knowledge, does this seem right?
Why would a perfectly nice colony get so irritable over the winter?
Any ssggestions appreciated.
Sarah Grew
|
|
|