Year 6 August - Buzzing Heat and Busy Bees 🖊️
-Witnessing bees hanging out at upper entrances on a hot and humid day in Wyoming.
August Adventures: Bees Chillin’ with Upper Entrances on a Sizzlin’ Wyoming Day
The heat persists, and Wyoming remains dry, but a sprinkle of thunderstorms has kept a touch of life in the plants along roadsides and irrigation ditches.
Thankfully, there was no mosquito spraying near town, sparing our buzzing buddies.
I didn’t shift these bees to a new location. An offer for an old bee spot came my way. When I went to claim it, the offer was unexpectedly withdrawn! Yet, the bees were low on honey. Could I at least drop off a free bucket?
Having hives near Casper has its perks. The bees thrive on a variety of cultivated plants, extending the nutrition and duration of available forage.
My bees seem happiest in proximity to a town, even if it means a slightly smaller harvest compared to those in an agricultural setting.
Making a massive honey crop isn’t my top priority anymore. However, a lingering bit of that old commercial beekeeping mentality might still be tucked away in my brain. In recent years, I’ve grown weary of the constant hassle of scouting new locations and relocating the bees.
The Sweet Highlights
-Exposed drone brood in burr comb between boxes, and not a single varroa mite in sight.
The hives that swarmed a month ago are thriving.
- The new queens are in great shape.
- Brood patterns are tight and robust.
- Bee populations are soaring.
- Varied nectar and pollen sources abound.
- No signs of mites, disease, or pests.
These hives, with their fabulous new queens, are the gentlest ones I’ve ever worked with. What a delightful surprise.
The Not-So-Sweet News
The hive that resisted the swarm this spring is facing a queen dilemma.
- Smaller bee populations.
- Reduced brood presence.
- Brood scattered in patches.
There’s still ample time for this hive to rear and mate a new queen. I’ll let them navigate this challenge.
Upper Entrance Wonders
-A glimpse of the skunk-decimated cactus, a testament to successful skunk deterrence.
It’s become a routine practice. Even a shorter, double-deep hive with an upper entrance managed to fend off skunks.
Last year, I experimented with cactus as a skunk deterrent. Unfortunately, the skunks eventually wreaked havoc on the cactus to access the lower entrances. The cactus is nearly gone, insufficient to deter skunks but plenty to bother a beekeeper.
The upper entrances bring good news. When skunk troubles escalated in the past, my methods weren’t exactly natural and, in the worst cases, were lethal. So far, the upper entrances have proven to be a skunk-busting solution.
Broodnest Insights
I’m eager to unravel the secrets of how bees organize their broodnest around an upper entrance. However, it’s still a bit too early to draw conclusions.
-Buzzing with anticipation, D 🐝🤠
