Category: Bee Facts

Yesterday, June 3, was my sixth time into the hives. Each week I open the hives and am amazed to see something new. Today it was propolis. It was everywhere, thick and gooey! For the first time I had to pry the frames away not only from one another, but up off the box as well.

Both hives are now composed of two deep boxes which are the bees main living area. The pollen, honey and propolis stored here is what the bees will depend on over the winter. The shallower boxes called  “honey supers” are placed on top of the main hive. The honey stored in those boxes is the honey for me!

Yesterday’s hive objectives:
Hive 1: determine if it’s time to add a honey super
Hive 2: observe progress in second deep box which was added last week

The frame in the photo above is from Hive 1. It’s the third frame in from box 2. The bees are storing lots of honey under the pretty white wax you see on the left.

This frame is also from Hive 1. It’s the center frame in box 2. The queen has been very busy. You can see the brood patch which has a brownish leathery look.

The mold build up appears to be abating, it’s also been very hot. Hive 2 did not have any mold, Hive 1 had slight mold. I did not see any mites…that I could see.

Hive 2 Stats
Box 2 only
Bees on all frames in the early stage of comb building
Did not see queen
Did not see eggs

Hive 1 Stats
Box 2 only
Did not see queen
Saw eggs and larva in all stages
Saw capped brood on center frames
Lots of pollen and honey
Outer frames are in early stages of comb building
Added queen excluder and first honey super