Approaching the end of my first year I have three highs, and thousands of questions.
14 days ago, they landed in my tree. [See photo 1]. Quite frankly I don't know if they are my bees or not. Of my three hives I noticed no significant loss. Because the slope up to the tree is so steep they are about 30 feet off the ground. They are positioned about 15 feet horizontal from my dining room balcony. For me, they are essentially unreachable. I watch them for a few days, assuming they would find new digs. They did not. I watch them for a few more days and their numbers seem to be declining. I thought to myself well, if they don't find something pretty soon they're going to die. So I set up a hive [see photo to]. The upper deep has 12 frames with only a very small amount of old comb. Mostly Plasticell. The lower box is completely empty. For a day or two they were checking out the hive and then they seemed to lose interest. By this time we were at eight or nine days. The wife suggested I try a little syrup, therefore the entrance feeder. They ignored it for two or three days then began feeding like crazy. Nevertheless, they have not taken up residence in the hive. Today is 14 days.
What in the world is happening? Their numbers seemed to decline for a while and then seemed to increase. It may just be there were out looking for new digs that day, and I assume their numbers have declined. My experience is that these little beauties are dying every day. What is likely to happen???
Curt.
Pasadena, California
14 days ago, they landed in my tree. [See photo 1]. Quite frankly I don't know if they are my bees or not. Of my three hives I noticed no significant loss. Because the slope up to the tree is so steep they are about 30 feet off the ground. They are positioned about 15 feet horizontal from my dining room balcony. For me, they are essentially unreachable. I watch them for a few days, assuming they would find new digs. They did not. I watch them for a few more days and their numbers seem to be declining. I thought to myself well, if they don't find something pretty soon they're going to die. So I set up a hive [see photo to]. The upper deep has 12 frames with only a very small amount of old comb. Mostly Plasticell. The lower box is completely empty. For a day or two they were checking out the hive and then they seemed to lose interest. By this time we were at eight or nine days. The wife suggested I try a little syrup, therefore the entrance feeder. They ignored it for two or three days then began feeding like crazy. Nevertheless, they have not taken up residence in the hive. Today is 14 days.
What in the world is happening? Their numbers seemed to decline for a while and then seemed to increase. It may just be there were out looking for new digs that day, and I assume their numbers have declined. My experience is that these little beauties are dying every day. What is likely to happen???
Curt.
Pasadena, California


