Spring Time with the Bees

Hives that have been split in the spring...

New bees on an, "orientation flight" after being introduced to their new home in the spring.

Spring package of bees with some hitchhikers on the outside of the cage.

Notice the drone (male) bee left of center in the photo.

Hint - Its the larger bee...

More hitchhikers on a spring package of bees.

Queen bee ..

Another picture of a package of spring bees. The Queen is in her cage in the center of that cluster.

Installation of a new package of bees in the spring. There is between 10,000 and 12,000 bees in package.

Queen bees are packaged in their own cage to protect them from being stung to death by the colony of bees. In a few days the hive will have accepted her as their own and she can be released.