They're Hard at Work

On May 23, we visited our bees once more to remove the sugar water feeders and the supers that were housing them.  This will encourage the bees to find nectar and water on their own.  Now each colony has one deep hive box.

We've had quite a bit of rain this month, about 10 inches where are bees are located.  The colonies are on high ground, but the rain makes it more challenging for the bees to get out and collect pollen and nectar.  They seem to be doing a pretty good job, all things considered.  Each of the hives have capped brood, but not much honey.  

Our hive upon arrival on May 23.

Hive number 02. We removed the top super and the sugar water feeder.

There's newly capped brood in hive 02.

Hive 02 close up of newly capped brood.

Hive 02 pollen collected.

Hive 02 entrance.

Hive 04, we removed the top super and sugar water feeder.  
We have Beetle Bee Gone yellow sheets at the bottom and top of all of the hives.

Hive 04 has a lot of newly capped brood, larvae, and eggs.

Hive 04 capped brood.

Hive 04 more capped brood.

Here's our queen in hive 04, notice her white dot and clipped wing.

As with the other hives, we also removed the top super and sugar water feeder from hive 06.

Hive 06 also has newly capped brood, larvae, and eggs.
Notice the hive 06 near the left, she is much darker than the others.

Hive 06 queen near the right of the photo.

Hive 06 queen with her white dot nearly completely gone.

We're hoping the rain will let up next week and give the bees a chance to get out more.  Who knows what to expect with our springtime weather in southeast Texas.