Week 13

Since it has been about seven weeks since the last powdered sugar treatment, I brought food, and sugar, out to the hive. I removed the lid, with full protective gear on, and found the top super was virtually empty. It was as empty as it has been in the past. There were few stragglers hanging about but not working the frames. I set the super aside. The queen excluder was glued down with propolis and wax. I scraped as much wax as I could to clean it up but it is increasingly important to work quickly now. There are a lot of bees protecting the hive and they are less tolerant of having the roof off for long periods. The main brood box is now full. There is comb from corner to corner on all frames, There is some capped honey on the outsides. The frames are built out with comb so much that they all interfere with the next one. The frames cannot be removed now without comb damage.

That's not such a big deal. That main brood box is theirs to get them through the winter. I had to set it aside to inspect the bottom box and see how it is progressing. The main brood box is almost too heavy to lift. I can only guess its between eighty and ninety pounds. I understand now, why many beekeepers choose to use mediums for their brood boxes.

The bottom brood box still has four empty frames. The middle three frames have brood on both sides. The other frames have some comb and some nectar so far. The larvae looks to be between two and seven days old. I know Doris is working in there daily but I did not see her there.

I shook gratuitous amounts of powdered sugar into the bottom box. The workers in this hive have never been covered in sugar. The oldest of these bees would have hatched shortly after the last treatment. None of them were very happy. I placed a pollen patty on this box and replaced the main brood box. That box got heavily dusted as well. The rest of the hive went back together quickly.

Finally, I filled the feeder jars with some fresh sugar syrup. For the syrup, I have been using a recipe I put together based on recommendations from articles and friends. I use a small amount of supplement based on lemon grass and spearmint that I received from a neighbor. It is supposed to replicate a Honey Bee Healthy type additive. I mix 1:1 sugar and water then add one teaspoon of bleach. I give the mixture a few hours to gas out before I add the supplement and serve. I know this method keeps the mold to a minimum and is fairly safe. I have been using it since the beginning.

I also have been using the leftover syrup in my hummingbird feeder. I empty out whats left in the jug so I can mix a fresh batch. The birds love it. Bees, hummingbirds, hornets, sparrows, and other birds all visit my feeder. Recently, I decided to mix up some sugar and water to fill the bird feeder. It was out and I didn't have any bee food available. I noticed there were a lot fewer visitors to the yard. In fact, the two pairs of hummingbirds that frequent the feeder would not stop to drink. They would swing by, sniff around, then leave again each day. After one week I went out to see what might be the problem.

The sugar syrup appeared to be normal but it had spoiled rotten. It smelled horrible. I dumped out the bad syrup and made up a batch of sugar syrup for the bees. I put some of it in the hummingbird feeder and now it is as active as ever.

The recipe has a definite purpose. Whether it is the aroma of lemongrass or the preservative, it sure seems to work better than straight sugar.

Doris and her colony love these warm sunny days. The evening showers keep the flowers blooming which keep the bees at work.

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