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Subject: Orange County, NC Beekeepers

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Chronological Thread  
  • From: Chris and Lisa Laudeman <chrisandlisa AT laudeman.com>
  • To: Janet Weinberg <janetweinberg AT yahoo.com>
  • Cc: Orange Beekeepers <ocba AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [ocba] Robbing
  • Date: Fri, 30 May 2014 09:34:21 -0400

Hi Janet,

I just wanted to mention that from your description, the "other" bees sound like drones. If you post a picture someone can confirm, or better yet if you can get another beekeeper to just observe with you. You would expect them at both hives, as they come and go.

Chris



On Wed, May 28, 2014 at 5:05 PM, Janet Weinberg via ocba <ocba AT lists.ibiblio.org> wrote:
While watching one of my hives I noticed some bees around it that were not honey bees.  They were a bit larger and seemed to have a mostly black abdomen.  I then looked at my second hive about 2 feet away and they had them too.  I did not see any fighting or dead bodies  but my bees were all over the entrance and not happy.  It was only a handful of them the best I could tell.  It appeared the bad guys were flying in and right out.  Fast. I was  wondering if they are, or are attempting to rob?  Do other species rob honey bee hives? That made me wonder what do my bees do if they are robbed?  Run away or go back to work.  There is a lot of honey in one hive and the other has honey but swarmed last Sat.  Is there anything I can  do to help my girls?

Also, for the first time one of my hives has honey everywhere.  They are building castles and tunnels. It's on the feeder, sides and top and bottom of everything. The frames started out  straight and level both ways.  What has gotten into them?  (It is not the hive that swarmed).  The only thing I can think of is that I decided not to bother them this year so I have not been going in.  Maybe 3 times.  Just kept them fed until 10 days ago.  Did they take advantage of their freedom?

If someone would like to come over they would be welcome.  I am in Efland.

Janet Weinberg

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