Stingless bee basics – Hive rubbish removal

Hive Rubbish Removal

Knowing what your bees are throwing out of your hive is a good way to see the health of the hive in the beginning stages of its growth. It can tell you if your hive has pests, is cleaning, is growing in bee numbers or just plain healthy.

Have a look in the video below. You can set up a rubbish catching devise that will help you to see what’s happening inside your hive at a glance.

Hive rubbish removal tips:

• When a steady flow of spent cells are being taken out, you know your hive is full and running at its best.
• If your bees are carrying lots of small maggots out, this is usually from a fly that has invaded your hive.
• Your bees will carry out saw dust and little chips of timber when your hive is new.
• Bees carrying blobs of resin in their mandibles are using it for defense. Have a quick check for ants and other pests.
• Bees will throw out young bees that have deformities . They appear light in colour. (It is not worth putting these bees back in, they will only throw them out again)
• Bees leaving with orange/brown wax on their legs are starting a new nest somewhere else. Often this means your hive is due for a split.
• Adult bees being carried out with a folded wing or curled antennae have been infected by the braconid wasp. Drop them in a glass of water to see the parasite come out. (They are going to die anyway so you might as well see the parasite for your own knowledge and experience)
• A queen that has been thrown out has not been chosen. These are often chopped up and dabbed all over with resin which will set them apart from other bees.