Lovely fall day, a mere 79 degrees–until you put on the bee jacket. Then I start dripping. Sweat drops on a bee veil make it really interesting to work. I did have on a sweat band, but…!

Not a happy inspection this afternoon. Hive Rosmarinus is queenless–no brood period. Nada, zip, zilch, nothing. No eggs, no larvae, no capped brood. Likewise, no dead bees, or beetles, and only two queen cups. Population about 50% of expected.

On opening hive Salvia, at least I found a lot of bees. All very busy, and signs of pollen and honey stores. But not good here either–very spotty capped brood, but no larvae, or eggs. Salvia has (or perhaps I should say had) a marked queen (second year for her) but I could not find that lovely blue spot. Given that there is only spotty capped brood I suspect that Salvia is queenless too. Not a happy thing to find at this time of the year.

I guess it’s time to talk to some beekeepers more experienced than I am–and maybe a trip to the bee store for two new queens!