first inspection -- what did I see?

[BruceBee]

After a couple of abortive attempts I managed to inspect at least one of my two hives (top bar hives by the way). I tackled the smaller one first, I've had that swarm for 10 days. I don't have a smoker yet so I misted them with water which did seem to have some effect. Anyway, they'd built combs on 3 of the bars. I couldn't really identify what was in the combs. Obviously some of them had orange and red pollen. Others had chunks of what looks like chalk -- white pollen? Maybe there was brood and honey but I really couldn't tell.

Here are two photos of the combs:
http://www.z2a.org/photos.bees/2006.04.17-inspect1.jpg http://www.z2a.org/photos.bees/2006.04.17-inspect2.jpg

Here are low-res versions if you have a slow connection:
http://www.z2a.org/photos.bees/2006.04.17-inspect1.med.jpg http://www.z2a.org/photos.bees/2006.04.17-inspect2.med.jpg

I tried to inspect the hive with the bigger swarm which I've had for 15 days but I got two nervous with 10s of bees circling my head. I don't think any of them stung my clothing but it made me too nervous to continue the inspection.

[tecumseh]

nice photos...

[Tom Chaudoir]

*Really* nice photos. I must be hooked if I get excited looking at pictures of bugs smile.gif

I don't see anything chalky though. Where do you see that?

[BruceBee]

Thanks! It was a miracle they came out as good as they did as I was holding both the camera and the frame at arms length in front of me and wearing bulky gloves. (Of course you didn't see the other 20 pictures I took of my hand, the sky, the plants behind me, etc.)

It is hard to see the chalky stuff in the picture. But if you look at the first picture, about 6 of 7 rows down, just left of center, there are a couple of cells with lumpy chunky looking stuff in them. Perhaps that just what pollen cells look like before they are completely filled?

I guess I have an excuse to open to open the hive up again tomorrow for a closer look. smile.gif

And to think I was hoping to see the queen. I can't even figure out the contents of a cell. I've got a lot to learn!

[onlygoodSHBisdeadone]

pic 2 top center see queen with her butt stuck in cell. Thats always a good sign.

[King bee apiary]

Looks normal to me,I blew it up some and see what your talking about and kinda looks like pollen..And by the way if you can blow it up your self you will see tiny white eggs in alot of the cells,almost looks like a louse in the center of each cell (the ones that look empty).
I'd say they are doing great.
Get a smoker and suit and check that big one..

[BruceBee]

> pic 2 top center see queen with her butt stuck in cell. Thats always a good sign.

This is like one of those "I Spy" books huh? (If you have a toddler you'll understand.) There are only about 30 bees total on the comb and I can't figure out which one you're talking about!

> Get a smoker and suit and check that big one..

There are at least 4 times the bees in the big one and I know they've built comb to the floor so I'm anxious to look around in there. I think it is more my fear than their aggression that is slowing me down.

[onlygoodSHBisdeadone]

Bruce -- top center on pic 2 all you see is head and shoulders.zoom in you'll see workers are head down in cells. she's heads up.
After two kids it helps. Waldos got no where to hide.

[ April 18, 2006, 06:52 PM: Message edited by: onlygoodSHBisdeadone ]

[BruceBee]

I see what you mean! The one that is in the sun and you can only see the thorax and head. I was looking for a long abdomen to identify the queen. I guess that doesn't work when it is buried in a cell. Cool! Thanks!