Bees -

To take a photo of the Spiral it was decided that the room in the old house would be a good vantage point so made our way across the dodgy floor boards to get in.

Why won´t this window open?

Because the bees have used propolis to glue it closed.

What bees?

Probably those above your head!

Lots of bad words and a quick retreat out of the old house that had been shut up for at least a year.

We were ok. The beehive was deserted but what amazing creatures. Mice had taken it over and devoured the stores.

But where are the bees? There were no dead bodies. I checked my own hives and with the same findings. The hives were empty of bees. No dead bodies just coddling moth larvae. There had been young but they were dead in their cells. There was no clear pattern of reproduction within the cells so I am at a loss as to what is going on and a little upset that my friends have gone. I will get some more one day but from a hive that has been left to its own devices to build up a resistance. I cleared away the empty hives ready to blow torch them to disinfect them.

I can´t help feeling concerned that bees are disappearing at an alarming rate and not enough is known about why or how this can be revearsed.