Bee ID

Locust&Honey · Post by **Locust&Honey** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 7:39 pm

I saw two honey bees in the field today. I would like some info on my observations. The first one was bigger than I would have thought the worker bee should be. She had orangish, red pollen on her head. Her abdomen was larger than I expected and when the sun was behind her it was like it shone through her abdomen and made her light up. I hope you can understand that. Wings were also larger than I would have expected. So I decided to walk around and see if I could find another one. I did but this one was different. She was smaller and was much quicker. Her size was what I would have expected for a worker bee. Keep in mind that I don't have my hives yet and can only compare to what I have seen in the class. The distinctive difference was the abdomen. It was black and dark orange stripped. But the end of the abdomen (near the stinger) was almost all black. No pollen on the head either. The sun didn't shine through the abdomen either. Two totally opposite bees in my eyes. Any thoughts??????????????

Locust&Honey · Post by **Locust&Honey** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 7:41 pm

Also, Kurt my wife swares that she thinks the bees at my house are yours. I live in Climax at the 22, 62 crossroads. Can you clear this up for her. I think this is too far for your bees to be. Ecspecially at 7 pm.

Kurt Bower · Post by **Kurt Bower** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 5:17 am

Honey bees will vary slightly in size, but almost imperceivable if both are workers. I have to believe that it was some pseudo-honey bee.
There are many insects that resemble the honey bee.
Try something like http://bugguide.net/node/view/15740 or maybe http://www.insectidentification.org/

And you ae quite correct when saying those weren't my bees. My bee yards arent close enough for them to reach Climax.

Kurt

Locust&Honey · Post by **Locust&Honey** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 4:42 am

Kurt, how long will it be before we find out our test results from the state??

I am going to go visit Wally today and look at some hives. I hope to purchase a few if they are good.

Could it be...I will finally get some bees????????????

I don't know what to think or how to act. All I can say is YIIIIPEEEEEEEEEE

ski · Post by **ski** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 6:35 pm

Locust & Honey

Did you get any bees?

Locust&Honey · Post by **Locust&Honey** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 6:43 pm

Ski...2 Hives

I am sooo excited. I want to go in them every 5 minutes. They appear very strong and I am looking forward to the experience of beekeeping. I put the supers on them as soon as I got them home. I need to do a little work on the inner cover but other than that they are doing great. When do you get yours???

ski · Post by **ski** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 7:37 pm

TWO HIVES
That is fantastic!!!

Did you get to pick them out?

I want mine now lol.

I have a nuc ordered through the club which will be in around the first of April.

I have equipment for two hives..still pondering where to get the second colony from.

Locust&Honey · Post by **Locust&Honey** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 7:54 am

Yes Ski, I did get to pick them out. Wally helped me but he pretty much let do the looking. He was great and I look forward to asking all the new questions that I now have. I wish you could get your hives now because the wait is killer. My boys have been watching them all day. They are bringing in pollen and look very well. I hope they adjust to my area.