Month: April 2022

The plastic hive split was inspected at Niagara Street. This hive was left queenless during the split and had a very large number of bees. The inspection was performed just in time as I saw and heard a newly hatched queen piping loudly. We found the newly hatched queen and quickly removed and remaining unhatched queen cells.

The unhatched queen cells were moved to a new double NUC box with half of the frames, seven frames. The hatched queen was kept in the plastic hive with the other seven frames. Equally splitting resource and brood frames. I swapped positions of the plastic hive and the new double NUC box. This was to bulk up the numbers of the new double NUC with any foraging bees.

First noticeable signs of nectar stores have been identified. Also, the bees are much easier to work as they now have a job.

The two known campus locations which contain wild hives are very active and ready to thrive in the up coming Spring months.

First drones of the season were seen in the hives at Niagara. Specifically the wooden NUC.

A hive was installed at the Barrett location. This will be the fourth year we have been keeping bees at this location.

This 2stack NULC overwintered with a small number of bees. 6 days ago, I placed a frame of brood from the plastic hive into this NUC to help boost numbers. I was previously unable to find the queen, but today she was found and looks large and healthy. I also noted that the bees were tending the new frame of brood which was placed into the hive.

The in-hive feeder was removed and a drawn frame was put into its place. This hive needed minimal smoke and no veil. This hive will go to Barrett’s house.