Finally Got My Colonies!

I finally got my 4 colonies of Apis cerana.  We bought them at Balete, Batangas and hauled it all the way to Amadeo, Cavite, about 3 hours travel via the long flat route.  I was really worried that the bees would get stressed out. They probably would have if we traveled by day.  But we all got home safe. We immediately set up the hives, picking, at that time, what I thought was the safest location that will afford some shade at noon.   We turned the hives so the hive entrances face east.  Then I removed the cover.  The bees did not fly out... so I was a bit relieved that the bees did not abscond.  

I really did not get any sleep last night contantly thinking about the bees.  I was awake when my phone alarmed at 4... I did not get up until 5... When I went to see the bees, the hives were still quiet... no activity whatsoever, though I can hear the feint buzzing inside if I put my ear against the hive.  When 6 am struck, the bees got out one by one like clockwork.  I think some of the bees were disoriented.  I saw two bees wrestled each other to death on the ground.  I was afraid that I may have put the hives too close to each other, but I later dismissed the idea as I have seen some videos where hives are placed side by side, and mine was distanced around a meter.  

At this time, I decided to put the sugar-water feeder back to the hive.  I have earlier resolved not to feed the bees with sugar, but after my talk with the beekeeper last night, I have decided that I will do with sugar-water regimen for now, until I have the bees, probably the next generations, have acclimatized with their new environment and have learn not to rely on sugar-water.  The beekeeper confirmed that this is possible especially if I am not aiming for commercial production, I must carefully observe the colony.  Soon, I saw the bees took their orientation flights around the hive and zoomed to nowhere.  A few minutes later, some of the bees were flying back inside the hive carrying baskets full of white polen.  I wonder where they found it.  It must be quite near for it was only about 20-30 minutes since I saw the first be flew out of the hive.  A few more minutes later, bees are dumping white polen in their hive... maybe, just maybe, I can really do away with the sugar feeding, especially if I have planted the whole garden with wild flowers and herbs.  

Before I left the bees, I hung 2 swarm traps on nearby trees.  I was told by the beekeeper  that 2 or 3 of the hives already have queen cells and are ready to divide any moment.

with an extra feeder outside...

The One-Straw Revolution...

The moment I got my library card at CVSU a few months ago, the first book I searched was Masanobu Fukuoka's "The One-Straw Revolution".  I was very glad that the library's data base showed 6 copies of the said book.  But none of the six copies can be found.   I practically searched all the shelves, checking each book one by one but I did not find the book.  Even the librarians from the Circulation, the Filipiniana, and the Reference section all helped me rummage the shelves but we found no copies.  Finally, one of the head librarians told me that the books may have been donated to other schools, after all, the book was printed 1978 and it was old... very old.  But she did promise that she will look into the matter and notify me as soon as they find the book.  Then, a week or two ago while searching for a book in soil fertility, something caught my eye.  I have searched that shelf several times and it was not there before.  They finally found it!  I love this book.  I ordered a copy at Amazon years ago.  I am very happy that an agricultural school like the Cavite State University has one.  If I can have my way, I will have all agricultural curriculum centered around this book and have the all the Principles of Natural Farming sown into the heart of every student!

Update on the New Super

These bees are amazing!  They have completely covered up the holes in the plastic sheet divider including the large circular hole at the center.  But they actually left some passages open to access the empty chamber above them..  What could they be planning?!?  I have no idea!  They have completed the sealing a week ago.  So far no other activities, but there are some bees loitering around the empty chamber.

This was a few weeks ago when the new super was added...

This is now...

The passage way... the only access to the main chambers
below...

A small portion of the brood chamber below the plastic sheet
can be seen through a small hole (center of picture).

Filling the Honey Pot

Less than a week after I added a an extra super with a plastic separator sheet... the bees immediately went to work and covered the small rectangular holes at same time building up large amount of propolis around the circular hole.  I am not sure if they will cover it up entirely.  Pardon the poor photos.  I put a plastic sheet cover so I can lift up the cover and observe without the bees flying out.

Watching the bees filling up the honey pots is so amazing.  I can probably watch the bees going about their chores the whole day if they would allow me.  Here is a short video of stingless bees filling-in, and or, feeding in the honey pots.  Can you imagine the bees working in complete darkness the whole day?