We now have 5 hives, 4 queens of which 3 are laying. Here’s a quick breakdown:
Hive #1: the Original (and the biggest)
- This hive has been queenless since May 18, so 2 weeks. We anticipate a new queen any day now.
- 4 supers high with one fully loaded super of uncapped honey. (Top super)
- No eggs or brood at this time.
- Lots of drones in the bottom super.
- Lots of pollen in the bottom suppers.
- Still too full to downsize.
- Several capped queen cells
- No mites to date
Hive #2: The Swarm that arrived from somewhere
- The only brown queen on this property lives here since May 16
- Everything looks great!
- This hive belongs to my mom so she’s been checking regularily.
- No mites to date
Hive #3: Mark’s black queen
- I’m just going to assume she’s in this one based on circumstantial evidence (until proven wrong). We received her on April 4 and I transferred her to a new home on May 18
- Amazing work ethic. Gaining strength in numbers and going about beesness quietly and highly effectively.
- This one belongs to me, obviously.
- No mites to date
Hive #4: On the Rocks (experiment of a split)
- This was a split I made on May 25
- “On the rocks” literally and possibly figuratively.
- As of June 1, it has a black queen with a very small crew
- First bee sting of the year, through the glove so not that bad.
- No mites to date
Hive #5: Mysterious Hive (aka the Figtree hive)
- The hive that just appeared. Found on May 31
- It has a laying black queen and seems to be doing well.
- No mites to date
Hive #6: Baby Grey (Failed)
- The hive that didn’t make it. Too small. Dumb humans.
Overall a pretty decent collection of things going on. And there’s lots more to come! (I am playing catch up)
