What a scorcher

2025: Cliffe Castle Bee Blog number 6

Sunday 11 May brought a very warm morning for Lee and I to check the observation hive for a viable queen cell. The bees have been mega busy this week. As well as collecting and storing nectar and pollen on the frames, they have been raising a total of 24 extra queen cells to replace Bee-yonce, who we took back to the ABKA apiary on Monday. They will have used her eggs and young larvae to make themselves a new queen (see photo 1 below for the cells removed).

We found the cell we chose on Monday was sealed and heavily dimpled (showing that the bees have been paying it some attention). We have kept this queen cell, to produce a new queen from and took all the others off the frames, to prevent the risk of losing bees to a series of swarms (see photo 2 below for the chosen cell).

We were also able to remove a frame that was almost completely capped with wax, on which the bees had cured the nectar to become honey. It was really heavy. This frame is in store now, to give back to the bees when we remove the colony from the museum, in September, as part of their winter feed. (see photo 3 below for the frame full of honey)

Now we must be patient and leave them well alone for at least 21 days. This gives time for the new queen to emerge from her cell and take several mating flights. These will provide her with the means to lay fertilised eggs and continue the life of the colony. The weather is set fair for the next few weeks or so, which will give her the opportunity to do what needs to be done!

Thanks to Lee, for helping and for the photos and video at the bottom showing the bees desperate to get back into the hive after the inspection. Also to the museum staff (Martin, Sally Anne and Isaac) who helped us carry out this important job today.