Yep those are honey bees. The ones with the yellow and black butts are the workers (females). The ones with the solid black butts are males or drones. Only the females sting the males do not have a stinger. From what I can see (and I am partially blind) I would guess they are of the Italian species or Carniolans and that is just a guess that I am basing on the deeper goldish color vs a stark yellow but even those can have the opposite color that was is typical of that species. But yep that is honey bees lol. Here is a photo of my Italians. Also if you notice the bee in the upper right corner it is a tid bit larger than the rest and its butt is black. That is a young male the rest are females.
Honey Bee Sanctuary - NOT!
- Thread starter Mimi13
- Start date
The bees in your photos are all honey bees (female workers). Colors and patterns vary in queens, workers and drones. The more the better, as it is a sign of a well mated queen. When a virgin queen goes on mating flights she will mate with an average of 12 drones. A few mating flights, that's it. She will store that sperm for the rest of her life (about 3 years) and will not need to leave the hive again to mate. When she lays a fertilized egg it will be female (worker). If she lays an unfertilized egg it will a male (drone). So male honey bees have no father only a grandfather. Honey bees are haplodiploidy.
The reason you are seeing bees take so much water is because they use it to regulate the humidity and temperature in the hive. Too hot and dry and larva (baby bees) will die or too cold and damp causes problems for brood. Healthy colonies do a great job at controlling the environment inside of a hive no matter what the cavity is. That's part of the reason why they are so successful, they're very adaptable.
When foragers bring back nectar its about 80% water and roughly 20% sugars. As the nectar cures it will reach about 17% water and is considered honey at that point and is capped.
In ewok126 photo you can see the bee in the center is a newly emerged bee (just born), you can tell by the fuzz on her head and thorax. The capped honey is what is called DRY cappings. Its common for Italian bees to leave an air gap between the honey and the cap, very appealing for selling comb honey. I have a mix of Italian, Russian, and Carniolan bees and some of them produce WET capping and the comb looks darker as there is no air gap between the honey and cap.
The reason you are seeing bees take so much water is because they use it to regulate the humidity and temperature in the hive. Too hot and dry and larva (baby bees) will die or too cold and damp causes problems for brood. Healthy colonies do a great job at controlling the environment inside of a hive no matter what the cavity is. That's part of the reason why they are so successful, they're very adaptable.
When foragers bring back nectar its about 80% water and roughly 20% sugars. As the nectar cures it will reach about 17% water and is considered honey at that point and is capped.
In ewok126 photo you can see the bee in the center is a newly emerged bee (just born), you can tell by the fuzz on her head and thorax. The capped honey is what is called DRY cappings. Its common for Italian bees to leave an air gap between the honey and the cap, very appealing for selling comb honey. I have a mix of Italian, Russian, and Carniolan bees and some of them produce WET capping and the comb looks darker as there is no air gap between the honey and cap.
And my carniolans
My babys hard at work back in June.
Absolutely! My neighbors Italians are grumpy butts. Mine are much better!
I've worked woth both on the same day/same weather/ temps. There is an obvious difference.
Lower honey production though, but not huge.
I've worked woth both on the same day/same weather/ temps. There is an obvious difference.
Lower honey production though, but not huge.
I might just have to break down and get me some carniolans come next spring. Right now mine are multiplying like mad! I have had a few times to where "grumpy" was putting it mildly with mine. Needless to say it did not take me long to learn how to read them lol. One thing about honey bees. They will teach you real quick lol. I now know not to go out to the hive and throw off the top like I own the place when it's 100 degrees outside lol. They got pissy real fast lol. All that hard work in cooling the hive and getting the humidity right and I just blew it out the door. They didn't like that one bit lmaooo. They tried to tell me by bumping me over and over but being a hard headed man I did not listen lmaooo. Now I listen with both ears by gosh. lol
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Ya, I did that two weeks ago. But it was time for a mite check and a comb check and I was already a week late. So... in I went. I did it really quickly though. I felt bad, but now I'll leave them alone for a bit. I'm done gathering honey for the year. It's time for them (in the TopBar) to start finalizing for Winter.
Now imagine that swarm a couple of weeks ago we captured. OMG THAT WAS INSANE, those were some angry bees.
I still haven't told that story in here. I should. It's quite the visual.
Now imagine that swarm a couple of weeks ago we captured. OMG THAT WAS INSANE, those were some angry bees.
I still haven't told that story in here. I should. It's quite the visual.
I would love to read it for sure. You must put up the story besides I need to keep learning myself and if I can do that from others then that is even better lol. I have physical therapy tomorrow so for now it is my bedtime. You have a great night and I hope to read that story very soon lol.
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