Bees not cleaning up cappings

Local question related to beekeeping in the Piedmont Triad area asked and answered here!

Moderators: Jacobs, Wally

Post Reply
Ron Young
Guard bee
Posts: 288
Joined: Thu Mar 22, 2007 10:34 am
Location: McLeansville

Bees not cleaning up cappings

Post by Ron Young »

Why would bees not clean up open cappings and honey?
Wally
Guard bee
Posts: 1838
Joined: Tue Jun 07, 2005 2:35 pm
Location: Randleman

Re: Bees not cleaning up cappings

Post by Wally »

Because they have a source for nectar. I don't know what it is, but my bees didn't show up at my hummingbird feeders today, either. They are finding something out there.
mike91553
Guard bee
Posts: 164
Joined: Sun Mar 30, 2008 9:34 pm
Location: NW Alamance Co

Re: Bees not cleaning up cappings

Post by mike91553 »

Wally,
I thought I saw a few of your bees in my buckwheat field yesterday. Its not but about 30 miles down here. They could have had a nip of your jet fuel to make the trip.
Wally
Guard bee
Posts: 1838
Joined: Tue Jun 07, 2005 2:35 pm
Location: Randleman

Re: Bees not cleaning up cappings

Post by Wally »

Dang it, I wish they would stay out of my mash.
Ron Young
Guard bee
Posts: 288
Joined: Thu Mar 22, 2007 10:34 am
Location: McLeansville

Re: Bees not cleaning up cappings

Post by Ron Young »

Sourwood trees are blooming, but I have always heard that sourwood in this area was not a significant flow? Other than gardens, and clover, I can't think of anything else that is blooming.
Wally
Guard bee
Posts: 1838
Joined: Tue Jun 07, 2005 2:35 pm
Location: Randleman

Re: Bees not cleaning up cappings

Post by Wally »

Magnolia, crepe myrtle, some yellow flower in many fields and yards, and I'm sure bees are finding many we don't see.
Squash, cucs, and other garden plants.
Buckwheat and other large field crops.

If it's out there, they will find it.
Jacobs
Guard bee
Posts: 1887
Joined: Sat Feb 17, 2007 12:36 pm
Location: Greensboro, NC

Re: Bees not cleaning up cappings

Post by Jacobs »

I don't know what my bees are finding, but at 6:00 am this morning, bees were rocketing out of all hives and generally heading to the southeast. I don't think they would be going with those numbers, that speed, and mostly in the same direction just to be exploring. It almost makes me think one of the neighbors has filled a swimming pool with sugar water.
mike91553
Guard bee
Posts: 164
Joined: Sun Mar 30, 2008 9:34 pm
Location: NW Alamance Co

Re: Bees not cleaning up cappings

Post by mike91553 »

This was one of those rare mornings that we didn't have a dew and the flowers were all dry. When I went out the door I heard a buzz from my hives about 150 yards away. Saw some bees on the clover in the yard too.
Zulu
Site Admin
Posts: 113
Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2011 2:17 pm
Location: Greensboro NC
Contact:

Re: Bees not cleaning up cappings

Post by Zulu »

Lots of bees were working the clover both on the farm and in my yard over the weekend. Some were working clover 2 ft in front of the hives.

Not seeing as much honey now, i expected more as the season started so strong.
Post Reply