At the Hive Entrance.pdf - BioBees

Observation
Explanation
Depending on the altitude and
the spring temperature, from
the end of April until mid -May,
there is little activity even in
strong colonies and on days
favorable to harvest, except
perhaps during the early part of
the afternoon.
This annual observation, which at low altitude occurs
naturally earlier than in areas of higher altitude, is due
to the fact that at this time the bees which have overwintered
die quite rapidly. The bees one sees flying in
the early afternoon are those young bees that will
later become foragers. (From May onwards the observations
made at the hive entrance must be supported
by those made at the building frame).
The orientation flights of
young bees are qf varying
intensity depending on the
colony.
These flights enable one to determine with confidence
the colonies that will be completely developed by the
commencement of the main flow. It is not worth
maintaining colonies from which one can not except
a harvest. One can use their brood and their bees by
sharing them between the colonies of midstrength;
this should be done ten days before the main flow at
the latest. This only applies to healthy colonies.
A large number of bees die sud- The bees have been poisoned by sprayed or powder
denly. Fights take place inside insecticides.
the hive and at the entrance.
In the morning scraps of wax The colony is breaking down worker combs to replace
are found in and in front of the them by drone cells. The cappings and the parts of
hive entrance. During the day rotten comb are also disposed of.
bees flyaway carrying wax particles
in their jaws.
Very early in the morning one It is most likely that the bottom board was not comfinds
wax-moth caterpillars in pletely cleared of wax in the spring. Amongst all this
front of the hive entrance. waste, the bees can only fight their bitter enemy with
During the day some of the difficulty, for the particles of wax on which the waxbees
drag wax-moth threads moth larvae feeds are covered by a fine cocoon.
and cocoons onto the alighting
board.
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