National Trust members email with a beekeeping video:
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/members-area
Interesting he talks about disease/pest control and then immediately shows an emmerging bee with a varoa mite. That's either irony or intention.
Was a very busy day for me, the Bees had me on the back foot. I bought a queen to re-queen a reluctant colony, after repeated frames of eggs/brood that did not raise a queen. Turns out they re-queened themselves and I was impatient. The frames were full of BIAS and the queen was not needed. So...
This year I am trying a "soak" hive for exactly this reason. I take full frames of capped broad out (If the queen has maxed out her laying space in brood and a half) and place them in a hopelessly queenless hive. It gives the queens room to expand and you gain another hive that won't swarm and...
Hi there,
I would say it was more likely that these are scout bees from their behaviour. You have quite the number, so they are scoring the bait hive highly. I would expect something in the next couple of days if the weather holds.
Hi there. I would remove the super and feed from the crown board directly above the brood box. Even if you plan to run "Brood and a half" (Brood+Super) I would let them fill out and draw the comb in the brood box first. Let them get established.
My girls were really grumpy today. The were pinging off my veil before I got within 10 meters of the hives. decided to peer in through the crown board, bee escape hole, and have a good huff of hive air. Left it at that. Put another bait hive out.
Watched as a large yellow Hornet riled up one of my hives today. Had them all in the air in front of the hive, while it took out Bees on the fly. According to the BBKA card I have in my bag, it was a European one, as it was bright yellow.