New Beek question about comb

1220 Views 3 Replies 3 Participants Last post by msscha, Apr 26, 2014

msscha

Discussion Starter · Apr 25, 2014

I brought a flashlight out to the hive just now while adding more sugar syrup to the feeder -- I was hoping it would help deal with the glare through the observation window. This isn't a great picture, I know, but from what I could see the bees have begun 3-4 combs, all looking pretty parallel. What I didn't see was anything at all inside the hexagons. Is this normal? To have 3 good sized pieces of comb (+ a smaller one) but no apparent occupants? Or is it just not at the edge?

Also, I noticed that the wonderful smell is gone -- it's warmed up so much and I wasn't as regular about feeding this last week (filled two times instead of every day). Should I take this as a sign that they're hungry?

Thank you!

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shannonswyatt

· #2 · Apr 25, 2014

If they have eggs you wouldn't be able to see them from the window. Honey would be stored at the top of the bar, and with a new hive there is probably only a little nectar in there, I doubt enough to be capped. The comb at the edges is not fully drawn out, so there wouldn't be much in them.

I don't know your nectar flows, but I would think that in Florida there would be some decent nectar flows and feeding wouldn't be necessary. But that is dependent on your area.

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treeWinder

· #3 · Apr 25, 2014

When they draw it out closer to your window you should see this.

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msscha

Discussion Starter · #4 · Apr 26, 2014

shannonswyatt said:
I don't know your nectar flows, but I would think that in Florida there would be some decent nectar flows and feeding wouldn't be necessary. But that is dependent on your area.

The first big bloom of spring was in early to mid-march, a few weeks before the bees arrived. I know they're flying south, but I'm not sure what they're bringing in. I haven't spotted pollen, but honestly, it's the last two weeks of the semester, so I haven't had time to look. Just having new beek anxiety

and the ag folks at UF's Bee College all mentioned to FEED YOUR BEES -- apparently, they've encountered quite a few folks with skinny bees.

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