According to the homeowner, honeybees have occupied this water valve box for the last 2-3 years. The comb was dark, and a bit tough to cut – so that supports the time-frame that she estimated.
The valve box was about 18″ deep into the ground, so the comb was DEEP. The queen looks to be well-mated as she has a solid laying pattern of eggs and brood. Drone comb was also found in this hive. The hive was very populated, and I suspect was about to swarm, since there were multiple swarm cells that were found along the bottom edges of the comb – however, as yet – none of those cells had eggs or larvae in them.
No tags were taken today from these great bees! I look forward to having them in the apiary!
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