1st time in hive...

[D's_Bees]

Now I got questions. I went in yesterday once the weather turned nice. It went great. No stings and they seemed pretty cool with it. I did notice a few things.

#1 - They are boring holes in the foundation. What does this mean? Are they making shortcuts to the next frame?

#2 - I saw no eggs or capped brood. They are capping what seems to be honey in the upper corners.

#3 - When do I add the super? They've started building comb out on all the frames but the last two but have not capped it yet.

Thanks

[icodebot]

You didn't say how long it's been since you first hived them.

I didn't see any eggs my first week, though now I know they were there. Weird about the holes.

I've read a few places that once 7 out of 10 frames are drawn you should add your next super.

[D's_Bees]

They were hived around a week and a half ago. I took some pics but I won't be able to upload them till tomorrow. I did find the queen this afternoon (which was cool) and my friend showed me that I do in fact have brood. I'm sure you can't tell I'm new at this. He said I should wait till it's capped before supering. As for the holes, he had no clue either.

[daknoodle]

The holes are indeed for them to move to the other side of the frame. They usually will do this.

As for adding the super, its always better to add it too soon than too late, So I'd recommend doing it now. Also, if they have already filled out most of the other frames already, then I'd say its definitely time.

Doug

[D's_Bees]

What I find interesting is that is that it's around the wire in the foundation. Not anywhere else :scratch:

[Kwin the Eskimo]

I'm new to this too. My foundation came from the factory with holes in two corners of each panel...I was wondering what these were for. Thanks.

[D's_Bees]

here's some pics of my hive. You'll see the holes and brood. In one of my pics there's a big white cup in the comb. What is that?

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee46/orangecherokee/Bees/DSCN0225.jpg

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee46/orangecherokee/Bees/DSCN0231.jpg

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee46/orangecherokee/Bees/DSCN0232.jpg

rest are here... http://s232.photobucket.com/albums/ee46/orangecherokee/Bees/

[Oldbee]

It's somewhat unusual to have that much chewing [making holes] of the foundation. Even though you saw the queen and there is brood, for some reason they have built a supersedure cell [the white cup] to raise a new queen. That is where they would build it, rather than close to the bottom of the frame, which would be a swarm cell. For a new hive like this, it's really going to slow the colony down. You may need to get a new queen soon. Why they are doing this when you have a queen, I don't know; never happened to me. Supersedure is how a colony replaces an old or 'inferior' queen with a young queen. Keep an eye on this cell to see if they continue to build it out. Also, watch how the queen that you have is laying. If it is a good pattern and a lot of brood are developing normally and being capped, you may be able to destroy that cell. It won't be ready to hatch [new queen] for 15-17 days. It would be over 30 days from now for any young bees to start hatching from that supersedure queen. I think for now, it's too early to add any more boxes/supers according to the look of your photos.

[D's_Bees]

Since this is my first go 'round with bees. I don't know what's normal. From my pics can you tell? Will they swarm again if the new queen shows up on the scene? The weather is supposed to be good today and tomorrow so I'll take another look and see how things are progressing.

[EastSideBuzz]

Will they swarm again if the new queen shows up on the scene?

You said will they swarm "again". Have they done this already on you?

[Oldbee]

If she is healthy, the queen that you have now might kill that supersedure queen, or you could end up with 2 queens in the hive; the original queen and the supersedure 'daughter' queen. I have not heard/read of this for a new hive. That supersedure queen has to fly out and mate with drones; return to the hive and start laying. When you check again, try to see if there is an egg or larva in that supersedure cell and whether you have a good number of eggs and or larvae. A good 5-7 inch circle on 2-3 frames would great by now [almost 2 weeks]. I have heard of small swarms, but this new hive shouldn't be swarming.

[D's_Bees]

You said will they swarm "again". Have they done this already on you?

they are a new swarm i just bought.

[Ardilla]

A couple questions:

When did you install the package?
Have you seen any brood?
Are you feeding?
Do you still have that screen taped to the entrance?

[no1cowboy]

"queen cups" are a common site in the hive It does not always mean there making a new queen, but are prepared to if they need one. If you destroy it they will just keep making them.

[D's_Bees]

The swarm was put in about 1 and a half weeks ago.

I guess. I've seen some capped cells that look brownish, yellow.

I am not feeding.

Those pics are when I first set it up. Of course, I don't have a screen blocking the only entrance :no:

[Oldbee]

"They were from a swarm if that matters." - D's Bees.

It matters. If you mean a wild swarm that was caught; put into a hive and sold to you recently [9 days ago] then that could be why they are building a supersedure cell. It is usually the 'old maternal queen' that leaves with about half the bees.

"....old queens are usually replaced by supersedure. Supersedure is much like swarming, except that the colony does not divide".

What I see in the photo is not an ordinary, "common", "queen cup" but what looks like the beginnings of a supersedure cell. It would be nice if was more fully developed to be sure [in photo]. The holes in the foundation may be because of your rainy weather and also because you are not feeding.

Again, if the queen is laying well; brood is developing and being capped, it's probably best to leave things alone and let the bees sort it out. At least you will have some bees emerging until the new queen is mated and starts laying, if that's what 'they' want to do. Good luck.

[D's_Bees]

I checked it again yesterday and things looked better. The holes seem to be shrinking a little. They continue to build comb out so I take that as a good sign. The queen is in the mix and I finally got a good picture of her. The supercedure cell is still empty. The workers were tending to it though. I got some pics of it too but not much more than what was seen.

I agree. I'm going to let the bees sort it out. I don't need all that drama :p