Bees stay in their neighbourhood and work from home.

(Post from April 6th, may have got filed under August when I noticed a couple of typos). 

Autumn bees have a piratical life, they work as hard for their collective as bees of any season, but it's harsher work. They have to fight off more robbers (both bees from other hives and wasps from everywhere), they have to explain to the drones they're not allowed to come home anymore, and raise strong babies who can last the winter. 

Winter bees don't go out much, they #stayhome eating honey, cuddling close and keep their sisters and mother warm and safe. There's a lot of bees in each bubble though, so I'm glad they have their varroa treatments in. Today we removed the queen excluders so the bees can choose the very warmest and best spot in all the hive for that and not leave Malka or Rachael behind. 

Here are some photos of Autumn bees on our mānuka. I'm glad to see they have working from home sorted. 

The first couple I managed to get with the strong lens that I can plug into my phone. It's a fine thing, and though it excels at photos of stuff that doesn't move, I really like seeing the bees' fur. 

And below, at home. 

Malka's hive are bringing in lots of pollen to feed their babies. 

Here is one of Rachael's daughters doing something to a drone, maybe biting him, I'm not sure. Below them is a guide bee wafting the hive scent to the world so the field bees know where to come home to. 

They're bringing lots of pollen in too, the black mesh is the removed queen excluder.