3 more larger male bees emerge
The usual story with the weather… I checked the dome this morning before I left for the day, but nothing reportable was seen.
When I came back at eight in the evening, I noticed two further cocoons were empty (I have been removing empty ones as they are discarded) but I still could only see five bees. It was another head scratcher until I spotted a couple were outside of the dome on the dark cloth – the only explanation was that I had probably left a piece of the cloth caught under the dome in the morning and the newborns had crawled out. Of course I then froze (not for the first time) wondering if there were not bees elsewhere – I checked under my feet. Then I examined and shook the cloth and a third was spotted on it. I checked to see if anything had flown towards onto the window or curtains. Nothing further had escaped.
Getting the three back undercover was a delicate task, they were relatively awake and strutting as if irritated. They all had the white tufts (males) but they were considerably larger than all but one of the existing five. I removed two empty cocoons that I could see. I believe another bee is dead, but I won’t remove it for the moment. Anyway I dolloped more honey (with its royal jelly) on the cardboard, and more cotton wool soaked in water next to it. The smaller wet piece I had added was completely dry. I suppose it also helps to have a little humidity in the dome.
Again I question whether my bee-keeping is correct. It was a relatively sunny day – albeit low in the sky – and I wonder whether eventually I may transfer some of the bees into the box outside for them to make the decision when to fly or not. Any ideas?
Tags: emerging bees