I have decided that the queen in the Ethel hive died a month or so ago. The bee population is dropping fast and there is no activity of workers bringing back pollen, in fact no activity at all. I will try to get the honey out soon. There is no sense trying to save it this close to the end of the season. I will buy a package for this box and any hive that doesn’t make it through the winter.<\/p>\n
Connie went nuts about the time I took these videos. I made the mistake of wearing a black t-shirt and was stung four times in the back and shoulder. I went back later with a white shirt and found what looks like a dead queen. I think that Connie re-queened. The swirling bees might have been the mating dance. She is happy now and there are lots of workers bringing back pollen, so I am hoping she is OK.<\/p>\n
Martha, the hive that was trashed by kids is going strong. There are lots of bees coming back in so heavy with pollen that they can hardly fly.<\/p>\n
The wildflowers are strong, especially goldenrod and ragweed and I understand that the bees like these. I saw queen anne’s lace and lots of fall perennials with bees on them so I hope that they will fill the deeps with honey.<\/p>\n
Around the end of september I will start to feed them. I found that by removing the bee guards from the top feeders and pouring in 5 lbs of sugar that bees go crazy over it. I moistened the sugar, but not enough to make it liquid. I understand that you have to be careful in the fall not to make the bees think that there is a nectar flow or they will increase and swarm. The wet sugar keeps this from happening.<\/p>\n