If you observe larvae at the bottom of cells with a minimal amount of royal jelly around them, it indicates that your hive is not doing well. Conversely, a greater amount of royal jelly in the cells suggests a thriving hive.
Condensation typically accumulates beneath the brood frame, which the bees insulate. The bees primarily focus their efforts on heating and protecting the brood frame, rather than regulating the entire interior of the hive. When Varroa bees collect pollen, you won’t find mixed multicolored pollen packs on their hind legs. They usually gather pollen from a single source during their foraging trips and deposit it directly into pollen storage. Pollen serves as the primary protein source for the entire colony and is essential for brood development. To support honeybees in your garden, it is advisable to provide pollen sources.
Assessing Hive Health: Larvae and Royal Jelly
Queen bees can lay between 1700 and 2000 eggs per day. However, the number of eggs she lays is limited by the availability of cells for deposition. If the queen becomes overly productive, the worker bees may consume the eggs she lays if they feel there is enough or if space is running out. If space becomes scarce, the colony is likely to swarm soon. Nevertheless, the queen can lay eggs equivalent to her own body weight daily. After around three days, the eggs hatch into larvae, and the nurse bees promptly supply them with royal jelly.
When field bees return to the hive, they pause, akin to a car wash, awaiting the arrival of hygienic groomers. These groomers clean underneath the bees’ wings, as well as their abdomens and thoraxes. They may also sample the nectar they gathered while foraging. Groomers are also responsible for cleaning cells and eliminating developing bees in their pupal or larval stages if they detect abnormalities.
The Role of Drones in the Hive Lifecycle
Drones do not hatch on their own; the worker bees assist in their emergence. In contrast, worker bees hatch themselves, clean their cells, and immediately engage in cleaning tasks. Drones primarily consume resources within the hive and await the opportunity to mate with a virgin queen. In November, drones are expelled from the hive and left to perish in the environment. During winter, worker bees do not tolerate the presence of drones and avoid expending resources that cannot be replenished.
