So have you ever wondered what was in those cylinder shaped cable boxes that sit out on your side yard? Yes, sometimes more than just cable.
This was a hive that had been around longer than one season. I had picked up a swarm from this hive approx. 2 weeks ago and it may have swarmed again as recently as few days prior to the extraction.
This was a hive that had been around longer than one season. I had picked up a swarm from this hive approx. 2 weeks ago and it may have swarmed again as recently as few days prior to the extraction.
Notice all the white comb from the spring build-up. The other side was all old brown comb, filled with pollen and uncapped honey. The comb actually continues to the bottom of this casing (another 10 inches or so).
I did notice that there were many large drones (indicators of swarming season) in the hive. There was also no capped brood and very little larvae. Another indicator that the old queen had swarmed and the new queen had taken a few weeks (after mating flights) to begin laying eggs. The bees were taking advantage of all the empty comb by filling it with honey.
I relocated this hive to a TBH and placed it in an orchard at the end of the day.
Santa Barbara Bee Company - "A full service bee company!"
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