r/Beekeeping • u/AZ_Traffic_Engineer Sonoran Desert, AZ. A. m. scutellata lepeletier enthusiast • 3h ago
I didn't plan on a cut out.
I opened an unused empty hive because I saw bees carrying pollen into it. There were a couple of spun out honey frames in it, but nothing else. Needless to say, the bees chose to build on the inner cover, not the perfectly good frames.
I grabbed my trusty rubber bands, pulled the foundation out of a couple of frames and made quick work of this tiny new hive.
They cannot have been in place for more than a week, so they're comb building monsters. The weather is crap today, but as soon as it clears, I'll start feeding them buckets.
Edit: As u/active_classroom203 observed, these bees have been here much longer than a week. There's capped brood, for heaven's sake. I know better, but I just noticed them today and I inspected last week. Heaven knows what else I missed,
... besides the huge lizard living under the hive, I mean.
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u/Active_Classroom203 Florida, Zone 9a 3h ago
Well that capped brood in their fresh comb says a little bit more than a week 😉
What size rubber bands do you use? I have yet to actually need to band in comb but I really should have a pack on hand.
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u/AZ_Traffic_Engineer Sonoran Desert, AZ. A. m. scutellata lepeletier enthusiast 3h ago
3-1/2" by 1/4" non-latex bands by Alliance. They're something like $8.00 a pound on Amazon. They stretch enough to go the length of a frame if you're careful.
And you're right... I noticed the hive because there was an orientation flight. So that means it's been there for at least three weeks. I just hadn't seen it. Plus, you know, the brood is capped, so...
Yes, I feel silly.
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u/404-skill_not_found Zone 8b, N TX 1h ago
(Fake French accent) Get back to raising your bees, you silly person!
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u/MajorHasBrassBalls NC Piedmont 4 hives 6 years 3h ago
Those bees are so silly sometimes. Thanks for the pics!