Scout bees are part of the colony that has over-wintered. They lay low until the warmer weather arrives. This little fellow was spotted by a plot holder. It may just be an over-wintering bee that’s out for the morning as the sun was shining as no swarm seen. Not sure whether the bee was thinking the water bottle would make a new spot for the colony or whether it was just thirsty.
Bees are an essential part of allotment life. They take the pollen around the various plants grown. No invite needed by them to visit anyone’s plot. Some are honey bees which may be from the Weaste Community hives or plot holder’s hives.
Swarm behaviour
May be a bit early in the North of England for the over-wintered bees to think about swarming. When they do they’ll go up and form a ‘bivouac’ on a suitable tree or other shady spot. The scouts will then go out, up to 25 metres to find a new spot. Our bee-keepers will have empty hives ready for them.
Bees over Winter
Scout bees are part of the winter bee colony. Winter bees have low levels of juvenile hormone and active hypoppharyngeal glands (HPG). Nope me neither, so here’s the science bit. The HPGs are two very large (compared to a bee size) gland. The glands’ functions change during a bee’s lifetime. From producing brood food to feed be larvae they then shrink and produce invertase which inverts sugar. If you’d like to know more about honey bee glands then Get Buzzing About Bees is a fun place to start.
The scout bees get to do their waggle dance at the bivouac and possibly in the hive to tell the swarm where the new hive is. The bee-keeper may also get involved to encourage the swarm into the new “bait” hive. Other bees, that forage, also do a waggle dance which is thought to be different and includes scent.
Community bees
There are several hives of bees at the Weaste Allotment site. Some are looked after by volunteers from the plot holders and some very helpful local apiarists on a community area. A number of plot holders also have their own hives. The community bees’ honey is collected and put into jars. It is then sold to plot holders in the community on-site shop. This helps pay for the hives, bee-keeping equipment including suits, and food. Plot holders should pop into the shop on a Sunday morning and see if there is any of last season’s honey left. The number of jars per plot is restricted in line with the harvest.
If you are an apiarist local to Weaste and wish to offer help with the allotment bees give us a buzz!