Upset bees

As the YBKeep and I agreed yesterday, this morning went down to place Crisco-slathered file-folders under the screen hive bases, to see (as a matter of interest) how many varroa mites are fumigated by the medicated strips, and was warned off. Our poor bees are still upset over what happened yesterday: they have multiplied their guard-bee numbers, enlarged their guarded area by about 20 feet diameter (and including behind the hive, where just two days ago they were quite content to allow human traffic). It's cloudy and close today, moody weather for bees in the best of circumstances, but it's warm: they don't need the entrance reducers installed just now anyhow. They're working hard on cleaning up the queen-excluders placed beside the hives, and doubtless busy repairing damage done inside, too.