Imy and her bees

13/10/2024

Cool photo of the difference in size between wasp and our native Hornet.

At this time of year they enjoy the sugars of the apples, before nearly all the wasps and hornets will die off

Different to bees where the colony exists over the winter, wasps and hornet queens will hibernate somewhere safe.

10/10/2024

Tonight, I had the final pieces arrive to put together my first physical product that I can sell from my girls!! I have to admit, I feel so proud of myself and my girls that we have been able to do this! My own logo, my own name, on a product I have made using my girls’ beeswax! 🥹🐝❤️ Hard work does pay off!!
You’ll be able to find me on Sherborne Beekeepers Association stall on Monday the 14th, 2-finish at Pack Monday Fair, where you’ll be able to purchase all my new candles 🥳🐝
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07/10/2024

One of my favourite bee jobs in 2024 was at OSR Projects (for many reasons). It was extremely hot that day, and we were dripping with sweat (I wish this was an exaggeration). However, the wonderful owner of OSR, Chantelle, treated us to ice creams! I was moved to tears when she gave me one!
These bees were much easier to move when compared to the ones at West Country Cars! There were two bee colonies in the roof cavity, which I had anticipated. As I was transferring the honeycomb into one of the green nucs, I noticed that the bees' behaviour indicated that they had a queen in that box (I was very excited). However, the remaining bees in the cavity were still indicating that there was a queen in there. So, I started searching and eventually found her, right under my nose! I placed her in a queen cage (it looks like a hair clip). Queens cannot pass through the gaps in the queen cage, but workers can. This way, the queen can still be cared for, fed, and kept safe. I placed her in the nuc, and the bees quickly started to spread her pheromones.
Later that evening, I returned to collect both boxes (both still full of bees) and took them back to my house. There, I released the queen from the cage and monitored them for a while before transferring their wild comb into frames and placing them into proper hives. They both happily live in their hives, instead of a roof cavity.
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02/10/2024

Fly? No. Bee? Yes! A male furrow bee, to be specific.
The most fascinating thing about this type of bee, is that depending on the latitude, they can either be solitary or live in colonies (fancy word for colonies is eusocial)! Crazy cool and totally underrated (like all bees).
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28/09/2024

Well, this roof removal was rather dramatic! As I was removing them, their behaviour didn't add up. I couldn't work out why for the longest time, however, one thing that the bees have taught me is to take 5 minutes and just be. So, I moved out of their way and spent time thinking about everything I had been told about these girls - they had been in this roof for at least 9 years, hadn't swarmed this year, and the cavity they were in was HUGE. Then it clicked, they had multiple queens! If you read a textbook, it will say that hives are only meant to have one queen! However, I like to remind people that bees can't read. So, I ended up having 3 boxes and attempting to spread out all the comb evenly; making sure they all had honey and brood. Once I gave, what I thought was only 2 queens, a box each (plus a spare box for any unused comb), I left the boxes there for the rest of the bees to find their way to their queen. I cleared up the rest of the comb into the spare box and double-checked all crevices/cavities to ensure there were no more colonies left.
When I returned at roughly 21:30, I wrapped up the two boxes that definitely had colonies in them and took them to my car. Then, I went back up to check all of the cavities, only to find a THIRD colony! At this point, it was about 22:00 and almost pitch black! Luckily for me, I have a very good torch! I managed to gather them all up, put them into my spare box, and within minutes they all made their way into their temporary home. I then took them to their new homes and they were very happy! Fingers crossed they all make it through the winter!
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22/09/2024

Now that it is officially Autumn, you will see many queen bumbles looking for their perfect winter hibernation spot. They love to go into loose soil (along with many other places) and hide away from frost, snow and rain (I can't blame them).
If you want to help queen bumbles hibernate over winter, click on the link below. It will take you to the Bumblebee Conservation Trust website, where you will find endless possibilities on how to help!
https://www.bumblebeeconservation.org/how-to-help-hibernating-bumblebees/ #:~:text=Queen%20bumblebees%20will%20hibernate%20in,and%20wake%20them%20up%20early.
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16/09/2024

This adorable looking thing is NOT a bee. It is called a greater bee fly! They are absolutly stunning as adults, but as little grubs, its rather horrifying...
Their life starts off with the mum flicking the eggs into a solitary bee's burrow. They will then hatch into larva and eat all of the pollen that has been stored for the baby solitary bees. (This sadly causes the solitary bee larva not to survive as they have no food). Once the bee fly larva eat enough pollen, they will under go hyper-metomorphis. They will come out as a more agressive larva and will now eat all of the soloitary bee larva and eggs! Then they will start the process all over again! Even though they do eat bees, they are VERY good at pollinating.
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26/06/2024

This video is taken on top of a roof that I have been to this morning. A swarm had moved in yesterday and the workers (all female) were busy doing their assigned jobs. The ones in the video have their bums up in the air fanning the pheromone to spread it as far as possible; so the rest of the family know where they are. Although, you’ll be able to see one very large bee compared to the rest, this is a drone (male). Their job (singular) is to mate with queen bees. In a hive there is roughly a maximum of 60,000 workers, with a maximum of 1,000 drones. Drones don’t sting and are very harmless creatures.
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13/06/2024

The other day I put up a hive next to where OSR Projects have a colony in their roof. They might be swarming soon and we didn’t want the swarm to move into another part of their roof (we already have plans to remove the first colony). I did put a couple of drops of lemon grass oil inside the hive which will attract the bees to find it, so our fingers are crossed they swarm into here and not another part of the roof! Was lovely to meet Chantelle & Simon and their family of bees 🐝💛
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12/06/2024

29/05/2024

Yesterdays swarm! Apparently they had been on this branch for over a week!! Totally unheard of… They normally move on within a day or two!! However, they excepted the temporary accommodation in my nuc. A nuc is a lot smaller than a hive, with only 5 frames, instead of 12. I’ve put them into here instead of a hive, so they can settle down and recuperate. We reckon they came from a colony living in a barn! They were very gentle, no stings, hardly any bees flying around, a smooth operation ending with a beautiful sunset.
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08/05/2024

A beautiful queen buff-tailed bumble bee 💛 Buff-tails are the largest bumbles! They have colonies just like honey bees do. However, instead of up to 60,000 bees in one nest (honeybee numbers), they only have up to 400 bumbles in a nest 🐝
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06/05/2024

19/03/2024

Everyone should have already seen some queen bumblebees come out of their deep hibernation. This beautiful queen has some mites on her, but hopefully they won't affect her. A couple of mites are to be expected, the queen can clean herself up and get rid of them.
If you ever find a bee and she looks like shes struggling, please offer her a beautiful flower from around you (not supermarket ones; these are normally sprayed with chemicals). You can also put some water down for her too! This is the best thing you can do for any bee, all throughout the year.
Giving them sugar water and/or honey is really bad for them. I know a lot of people will argue against me, regards sugar water being bad, but sugar is bad for us, and we all know it, so why give it to the poor bees? Honey is really bad to feed to bumbles due to them not being able to digest it; they can digest pollen, water and nectar. Regards giving honey to honey bees, when the bees make honey, they mix their saliva in with the nectar, this then adds any diseases into it (not harmful to humans). That bee colony could be immune to that disease but the colony that you give it to next, might not be. You will likely cause more damage than good, unfortunately. Although I know you have good intentions ❤🐝
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12/02/2024

You can also follow on Instagram 🐝❤️

14/12/2023

This is what my hives look after I rehome them from somewhere they shouldn't be. I attach the comb onto the frames using masking tape or rubber bands. It is a lot of extra work, however, the bees have already spent so much energy and resorces on making all this comb, they deserve to keep it!
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13/12/2023

The magical world of leaf cutter bees! They go around surfing on bits of leaves! The females cut off bits of leaves, mixes in saliva, all to create a wall to cover up the baby bee's cells. This protects them from preditors and the elements. Don't worry though, the baby bee (larva) will have food with them - pollen and nectar mixed together.
I relocted this colony from a lovely ladies' back garden. I am so happy that I can rehome bees, give them another chance at life.
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