Well it appears my Honey Bees got swept away in the housing boom craze. When I last updated you, we were anxiously awaiting a new Queen Bee to hatch, assume the throne, and lead my colony to be a thriving kingdom again. And at first it appeared she did exactly that! My hive was buzzing with activity again, and I foolishly assumed all was right in my kingdom once more. Oh how wrong I was! The activity I saw was my Honey Bees preparing to move to a new home. Yes, it is true, my bees have swarmed. My Chuck BEEly hive is empty.
We realized it had been a few weeks since we saw activity at the hive, so Dad took a peek inside. He was shocked to see it was empty. They took everything they could move with them, including all of the honey they had produced and the pollen patty we had given them. All that remained were a few moths who purchased the hive. Thankfully though it wasn’t filled with dead bees like when we had the colony collapse two years ago.
As best as I can gather, the new Queen Bee was not pleased with living in her predecessor’s castle, and wanted a fresh start. I don’t blame her. It is a seller’s market these days. Problem is it was not her hive to sell. Dad is now in the process of evicting the moths. In the meantime, I am left wondering was there something more I could have done to convince my Queen and her loyal subjects to stay? I gave them extra pollen patties. Would they have preferred sugar water instead? Were the wildflowers in our yard not to their liking? I wish Asa didn’t eat their dandelions in the backyard! I guess I just need to accept that I will never know their reason for swarming.
Meanwhile I’m left worrying about their safety. A swarm of Honey Bees can travel anywhere from a few feet to 6 miles, so there’s no telling where my colony could have gone. I just hope they steered clear of the neighbors’ yards where they spray pesticides on their lawns. I also worry now that there is a chill in the air will they be warm without their insulated hive this winter? Normally bees will swarm in the spring. It is late in the season for my bees to set up housekeeping in a new home. Will they be able to store enough food for the long winter ahead? Oh how I worry! But alas, there is nothing I can do now, but hope they are safe and trust in the leadership of their new Queen Bee to take care of them.
