View Full Version : White smudges on the bees
I did the last peek into the hives till spring today. I noticed some white smudges on the tops of the abdomens. I did not notice anything else different. I saw no mold or other white material in the hive. They otherwise look very healthy.
RKR
devdog108
10-19-2009, 09:35 PM
I saw that not too long ago on a new hatchling....then I noticed that they were bringing in white pollen......
chillardbee
10-21-2009, 12:33 PM
The touch-me-not blooms and other plants like them will actually put a white mohawk on there thorax.
Karen Amelia
10-23-2009, 09:51 PM
It's possible that another beekeeper in your neighborhood sprinkled powdered sugar on her/his bees and maybe some of yours were robbing that hive... or maybe the white powdered bees are not part of your hive but are robbers from another hive that got a powdered sugar treatment. Just a thought.
I don't know of another hive in my area. Of course that is possible. The smudges look like a dried liquid. Like they got "White-Out" on them. I am new to beekeeping and so everything is new to me!! Both hives had a few with smudges.
RKR
Hambone
10-23-2009, 10:13 PM
Look up Jewelweed. You may not have that, but may have something simular blooming. It has long anthers and as the bee leaves the flower it will put a white stripe on the bees.
Lo and behold we do have Jewelweed, and some kinds bloom in the late fall. That could be it. Like I said it all new to me!!!
Thanks
RKR
theriverhawk
10-24-2009, 09:19 AM
I'd almost guarantee some type of pollen that is producing in your area. There is a time of the year here where one plant blooms. When I open the hives during this time, there will be bees in the hive that look like someone has hit them with a yellow highligter right down their back. Funniest thing to see.
honeydreams
10-24-2009, 10:20 AM
that is touch me not it will bloom till jan or the first real hard freeze.
Interesting you learn new things everyday :)
BeeCurious
10-26-2009, 05:23 PM
I don't know of another hive in my area. Of course that is possible. The smudges look like a dried liquid. Like they got "White-Out" on them. I am new to beekeeping and so everything is new to me!! Both hives had a few with smudges.
RKR
I have the same thing... It looks so much like little specks of White-Out!