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Thu, 6 May 1999 08:54:00 -0500 |
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Hello,
I have to be away for a few weeks (poor timing) so I was adding extra supers
to my colonies. I took the cover off one colony and there was a queen
running around on the top of the inner cover. She was plump and did not
appear to be a virgin or a queen preparing to swarm. I put her in the hole
of the inner cover and a few seconds later she came back out. I did notice
one worker feeding her. I marked her and put her on the top bars of the top
super and put another empty super on top. I closed up the hive and kept
working. A few minutes later I lifted the outer cover and there she was
again. I didn't go through the colony and look for another queen. I
thought it was better to leave it alone and let the bees sort it out. Is
this queen anti-social, or is she waiting for her date.
Also, when I get to this yard and am still getting things ready, there are
some aggressive bees that immediately show their displeasure with my being
there. The problem is I can't tell which colony they are from. When I work
the colonies none appear more aggressive than any other. There is no
evidence of skunks or anything else bothering them. I wouldn't care except
the bees are located in an orchard that is part of an Institute/Research
Farm. They have tours through the orchard. I spoke to the orchard workers
and they said they were not bothered by the bees so I guess you have to get
close. I just wish I could tell what colony is doing this.
Bee well,
Ron Bogansky
Kutztown, PA USA
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