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Bees not cleaning up cappings

Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2012 5:13 pm
by Ron Young
Why would bees not clean up open cappings and honey?

Re: Bees not cleaning up cappings

Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2012 6:44 pm
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.

Re: Bees not cleaning up cappings

Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2012 11:41 am
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.

Re: Bees not cleaning up cappings

Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2012 12:07 pm
by Wally
Dang it, I wish they would stay out of my mash.

Re: Bees not cleaning up cappings

Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2012 1:41 pm
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.

Re: Bees not cleaning up cappings

Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2012 2:45 pm
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.

Re: Bees not cleaning up cappings

Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 6:05 am
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.

Re: Bees not cleaning up cappings

Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 7:16 am
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.

Re: Bees not cleaning up cappings

Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 1:24 pm
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.