Hi,
I've got a hive that got off to a rocky start last year (installed package, wasn't sure whether queen made it into hive, eventually swarmed in mid-summer when I wasn't paying enough attention). It has made it through the winter, and I'm being much more attentive with weekly inspections. However, I just don't see the population zooming and the activity building up like in my other hive.
Here's what I think I know about the situation:
- they're not foraging much. When I inspect on a sunny day there are just a handful of bees entering/leaving the hive.
- I see evidence of larva in cells. I was having a hard time seeing eggs in cells, but then my eyesight is not great without magnification.
- I don't think that everything is drone brood, which would indicate lack of a queen, right? I don't hear the buzz that people have talked about a queenless hive having, but then the population is way, way down.
- they've got a full two-side frame of honey from last year, so they're not lacking for food. i've put a pollen patty and 1:1 sugar syrup in an under-the-cover feeder, but they don't seem to be doing much with it.
- there's some yucky stuff visible one of the frames; look at the left side of Frame E (photo links below).
Frame C:
Frame C Detail:
Frame D:
Frame E:
Thank you for your assistance...
Kurt