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03/12/2006 Archived Entry: "Queens, Queens , Queens and not an stitch of polyester anywhere"

I did another complete inspection on both hives today. Populations are going nuts. The nuc is just getting to that stage where I need to pay attention to the population for possible swarming. The bees are consuming a jar of sugar water with Honey B Healthy once every two to four days, for each hive. The small hive beetles haven't gone away but their numbers are minimal. This hive is going going going. Now the super hive I was worried about the queen has shown an interesting issue. When I went in and look at the frames I found 6 queen cells total on different frames. these were at various stages of development. They aren't swarm cells so it isn't an issue of space. Although the hive is quite populated it isn't anywhere near critical mass. The current queen which I haven't yet seen is definitly laying eggs but I guess the bees are looking to usurp her.

Now for what is interesting. The sugar water mix usually has a fly or two trying to move in and grab some and when it leaks just a little much the flies are there to clean up any extra. Well that has also attrached something else, shinning beetles. They like the remants of the powdered sugar that are left from hive treatments. They also hang around the sugar water mix like it was a bar. A bar with an open tab.
The bees are not fond of them and usually are pushing them away. However the beetles are nocturnal and the bees are diurnal. Which means the beetles have turn the bee feeder into the hottest night spot in the yard. You can see them playing darts, commenting on sports and politcs and picking up hussy beetles. Usually in the morning the are passed out. Drunk beetles are being tossed to the alley in the morning by the bees. The beetles are not going into the hive but they are bringing down property values in the hive neighborhood.

The bees are forming a neighborhood watch and bee commishion is going to pass legislation banning all beetles if they don't straighten out. I am watching for little crime watch signs at the entrance.