Inspection: July 1st

THE QUEEN!

Hive 3 (Left Hive)

It started at 9:30 a.m. The weather was warm, 75 degrees, with some clouds and a slight breeze.

Hive 3 (Left Side Hive) Top Box-medium super (added last week) with some comb already built on several frames. I found capped brood, larvae, and a couple of queen cells as I moved from frame to frame (I eliminated the queen cells after I located the queen on the 5th frame). The queen looks great, very large, and healthy (see photo). I did not check the bottom box (which is the larger brood chamber) after I finished and thought more about it; I may go back in and rotate the bottom box up above the current top box if the bottom box is still not built out. I think this will encourage the bees to work more on these frames. 

Hive 2 (Right Side Hive) consists of 3 medium boxes. The top box is still brimming with honey and resources, making it quite heavy. I again decided to take this box off to begin the inspection in the middlebox. 

(Middlebox) After the first 2 frames, I began seeing brood and larvae. Frames 4-5 and 6 had wonderful brood patterns—very full. I found the queen on, I think, the 6th frame. She also looks great! Large and healthy. I then checked the lower box. There is not much going on with this one. There is a good amount of space. I decided to move the middle box to the bottom and move the lower box to the middle position. Then place the nearly full honey super on top. I need to order more medium-frame boxes and frames today.