Blue Green Horizons

The California Poison Control System has received 77 rattlesnake-related calls so far this year, a significant early-season spike for an agency that typically handles about 200 total calls per year.

The California Poison Control System has received 77 rattlesnake-related calls so far this year, a significant early-season spike for an agency that typically handles about 200 total calls per year.

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Scientists have identified a group of worker honeybees that are specially adapted to build their queen's waxy abode within the hive.

Worker bees perform a myriad of jobs to keep up the hive, including collecting food, nurturing young bees and caring for the queen, who lays all the eggs. New research reveals that the honeybees responsible for crafting the queen's home effectively run a fever to help melt and blend special chemicals into the wax.

“No one had ever thought that there might be a specialized group of workers that were building these queen cells,”

A diet of royal jelly isn't the only thing that makes a queen bee NEW YORK (AP) — Scientists have identified a group of worker honeybees that are specially adapted to build their queen's waxy abode within the hive.

They are Loyal to the Queen.

Ground swarms we have found happen mainly for two reasons.

1 - Rain or cold weather and the have fallen from the tree.

2 - Injured Queen (or dead)

These bees had been on the ground for more than 48 hours and near a grade school.

Jeff carefully gathered the bees & found the Queen under them. She is missing one wing and had other damage.

Sacramento CA

Why would they settle on a green waste can, on the street, in the hot sun and when there were many great trees all around.

This is something that many swarm recover's will run into.

Large Combined Swarms with multiple Queens.

This one that Jeff Goding went to recover was in the 8-10 pound range so a double deep was needed.

These rarely (very very rare) only have one Queen.

When he went to collect them after dark only one Bee was outside on the landing board.

One of the largest swarms I have recovered was 18 pounds (see comments) and I found 4 Queens - could have been more. This swarm was what we called a roller. 40 commercial Hives were placed in a "parking lot" after almonds and when one swarmed - a bunch rolled out together.

Sacramento CA

Things that swarm reporters say that are often way off base:

There are hundreds of bees going into my (Chimney, Vent, hole) = A dozen scouts.

There are thousands of bees all over my trees, there must be a Hive in there someplace = blooming tree.

I noticed them 2 days ago = More like a month or two. Note: This one is12 feet from the front door.

We have removed a similar Open Comb Hive (at least a month old) from this location in 2024, a swarm (1 day) in 2025 and now this one that she noticed 2 days ago.

Need to wait for the cool weather coming up next week, comb too soft at 93f to relocate.

260523c Folsom CA.

We took a report about Bees entering the bottom of a shed. Figured it was a floor cut so Jeff went over to see if the inside etc was clear.

What he found was a couple of dozen bees "scouting" the vent. He could see under the shed from the side and only saw a few bees on the inside.

Recognizing what it was so with the help of the homeowner they blocked the vents and setup a trap box (10 frame with comb).

They just called. . . . .

Much easier than a cutout!

260521a Elk Grove CA 95624

In Honor:

Sherlock Holmes Day is celebrated annually on May 22nd to honor the birthday of the detective's creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The holiday is observed globally by fans and armchair detectives who celebrate the legendary character's enduring legacy.

Few know that he wrote a book on Beekeeping.

"Practical Handbook Of Bee Culture"
Sherlock Homes
in 2017 reprint & Edited by Paul Ashton.

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