Andrew’s Bee Blog

We went out this afternoon and did some maintenance on the hive.  The lower super was splitting apart so we decided to replace it.    While we were doing that Dad and I reversed the top and lower supers.  During the winter, the bees move up into the upper super near the honey.  But in the spring you want them to be in the bottom supper to move upward.  The girls were not happy with me swapping out the supers and were very aggressive.  We only have the lightweight veils and those pesky bees found a way inside.  I got stung right below my left eye.  we were still in the middle of working on the hive and had to finish before I could address the sting.  However it didnt’ prevent me from running away from the hive screaming like a girl (it was a little embarrassing).  Anyway, we got the hive finished and went inside.  Dad pulled the stinger out and I took some Benadryl and also put some Benadryl ointment below my eye on the sting.  A little ice and I feel alright.  The girls should be settled now, but I think I am going to buy a real bee suit with a zip on veil that they can’t sneak under. 

Dad got out today to have a look at the swarm hive.  It was a beautiful day outside, at least 60 degrees.  He was wearing the gloves and veil/hat, but when he opened the hive, the bees were a bit aggresive and one them stung him through his shirt.   He put on a jacket.

We are going to start feeding the hive with sugar syrup.  This will give them a little boost until spring arrives and the nectur flow is on.  We are glad to see the hive is doing well and lasted over winter.

So yesterday, I was up at my parents for a family party and Will, Emmy and I went down to look a the swarm hive. We were just peeking at it and I decided to peek into it to see if I they had been working on the third super. When I opened the top just an inch or so, a bee came flying out right at my sleeve. Of course, I wasn’t to smart doing this in a t-shirt and shorts with no veil on either. I thought the bee had just flown off, but a minute or so later I felt it crawling on my arm. I waved my frantically to get it off and it took off at Will. Will spun around and the bee then went after Emmy. Emmy started shaking her hair, as if she were headbanging and ran for the garage. The bee buzzed her most of the way up to the garage. Will and I were laughing our heads off. It was pretty funny.

The bees were all they way to the top of the third hive body…time to add another one!!!