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Archive for May 25th, 2009

White Cuttlefish sited in Apple Tree!

Posted in Bee Present, Bee-ology, Beekeeping, Beetwixt & Beetween on May 25, 2009| Leave a Comment »

When visiting the apiary yesterday I noticed a beautiful white cobweb glistening in an apple tree about 10 metres from the hives.  As I drew closer, I saw it had a cuttlefish-like structure.

On closer inspection it turned out to be a piece of pure white honeycomb – about 5 inches long by 4 inches wide that had obviously been drawn out by one of the swarms from the apiary earlier in the month.  It was not the yellow comb you get in older hives.  It had no pollen, honey and certainly no sign of the darkened cells you get from the queen laying eggs.

It was quite beautiful.  Pure virgin white.  I took it home and put it on pride of place on the mantlepiece!  I wonder if it will go yellow over time?

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Seven Foot Long Swarm!

Posted in Bee Present, Beekeeping on May 25, 2009| Leave a Comment »

I was rung by the local police yesterday to say that a seven foot long swarm had settled in someone’s apple tree – and could I collect it!  I was out at the time – and asked that the woman who had rung me get in touch.

In the end I had to ring the police back to get the details and decided to go and catch the swarm with onlly an hour of daylight left.

When I arrived, the swarm was normal size – but 15 ft up in the tree – and the owner only had a 9 foot ladder.  So I had to ask for a soft brush and swept the swarm onto a sheet on the ground.

It was so dark by the time I left, I am not sure whether or not I got the queen.  Anyway, it just shows how information can be mis-translated!  Anyone who has actually seen a seven foot long swarm please let me know!

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