Bees Not Drawing Wax Comb!!

[txgunnut]

Hi everyone, I live in Grapevine Texas and it has been brutally hot ( 100-108 degrees from 12:00-6:00) for the past month and a half. I started two hives in mid May, they are at my uncles 300 acre cattle ranch in Rome,TX . Both of the hives were doing pretty well and drew out about 4-5 frames in each hive, I suppose they were mainly bringing in nectar from the abundance of thistle we have. But now that it is extremely hot and all of the flowers are dead except sunflowers my bees have stopped drawing out comb. I have started sugar syrup feeding but they dont really respond to it. there is a pond about 40 feet away so water shouldn't be a problem. They still seem to be busy.... about 5-10 bees flying in and out every 10-15 seconds. I am wondering if the heat is the reason why they are not drawing out my beeswax frames?? They are not hanging on the outside of the supers but usually if its really hot or humid they like to gather on one side of the super and hang around the entrence and SBB. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks:)

[Putz]

With over 95 degrees or more, about the only thing the bees will do is gather water for cooling in the hive. That's why you see activity with no building up at all. If the temps stay too hot, they'll cut back feeding the queen so she will slow down or stop laying. With very extreme heat, they'll even start eating the eggs and larva that is there if they have troubles keeping it cool enough in the broodnest. Make sure you have good ventilation in the hives. I have full screen bottom boards of 1/8" mesh hardware cloth wire, no sticky board, hives up off ground on rails. I had them stop laying and eating eggs and brood the last really hot spell we had here. After it cooled down some, the bees went back to normal, queen started laying like gangbusters again and nectar was flowing well.

[txgunnut]

Thanks for the info, it has gotten a little cooler lately and the bees seem to be doing lots better. thanks again for the help!:)