Follow-up to Wax Moths
We decided to open the hives again, thinking there must be a mass on the bottom screen and it should be cleaned out before winter. We opened up hive #2, first setting the top feeder down to the side. There were TONS of bees in the hive, though many were out foraging. Several were not real happy about today's intrusion, either, and kept buzzing rather insistently in my face. No stings, though--whoops, except for Kathy, who had her pant legs secured with rubber bands but wore short socks and took one on the ankle--ouch!
Surprisingly, the bottom screen was completely clean and no other sign of wax worms. The odor must be coming from either some honey that has begun to ferment or the odor of the pollen currently being brought in.
Another mistake was setting the top feeder aside uncovered, and Kathy diligently scooped out several dozen "swimmers" before we could re-assemble. With all the bees all over the hive bodies, we hoped the queen was not crushed. When I checked this evening, the bees were quietly going about their business, still bringing in plenty of orange pollen.
Surprisingly, the bottom screen was completely clean and no other sign of wax worms. The odor must be coming from either some honey that has begun to ferment or the odor of the pollen currently being brought in.
Another mistake was setting the top feeder aside uncovered, and Kathy diligently scooped out several dozen "swimmers" before we could re-assemble. With all the bees all over the hive bodies, we hoped the queen was not crushed. When I checked this evening, the bees were quietly going about their business, still bringing in plenty of orange pollen.
Hi Jim,
ReplyDeleteI'm curious, do you feed your bees in the fall all the time or do you check and see if they have enough stores? I'm worried about my bees. I "think" they have enough but how would I really know.