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I quite like the old expression which talks about learning something new every day. Today has been a day in which I really did learn something new, about a plant which I have long regarded as a weed. I imagine that many members of this forum have seen the website “HoneyBeeSuite”, by Rusty...

Generators which produce AC voltage and current are of two types. Older types just use an alternator, where the actual voltage, and frequency (hertz) of the generator are dependent on engine speed; but many newer generators use inverter technology. To the best of my knowledge, the older types...

In basic terms, inverters are of two types - basic ones which produce "square-wave" alternating current, and sine wave inverters which have more sophisticated electronic circuitry to mimic the pure sine wave alternating current which is produced by an alternator. As other contributors have...

. . . and some people's sense of humour is very distorted

Yes Dani, I know it was a play on words, but you could not make very good honey frames with that stapler. I am reminded of a scene from Crocodile Dundee, where a young hoodlum produced a knife. Paul Hogan, playing the role of “Crocodile Dundee” said, “That’s not a knife, this is a knife!” and...

The Rose hive system does not specify a box size. The emphasis of the Rose system is to use just one size of boxes and frames. The choice of what size box is up to each beekeeper and their individual circumstances.

His name is Ian Steppler, not "stapler". It helps sometimes if people check the accuracy of their comments. I have built, and use, a jig for assembling frames - it is an extremely helpful device which serves almost as well as another pair of hands.

Please let me add a bit of supplementary information to my query, which may influence the advice which could be offered.. The nucleus colony (from which I am prepared to supply a queen) was established a little more than a month ago. There are enough bees in the nuc to cover two WSP frames...

During the week which has elapsed since I posted my queries, I have been doing “mental preparation” for the task of re-queening the aggressive hive. I think that it is now fair to describe them as aggressive rather than just “very defensive”, as they have chased a family member who had not come...

Thank you again, Eric, for a very helpful reply. I hope that your answers may be helpful to other readers as well

Some months ago, the size of openings which prevented mouse entry was discussed on the forum. It would seem that openings about 6mm or 7mm diameter will prevent mouse entry, but allow easy passage for the bees

Thank you Eric for such a quick and relevant reply. I have a supplementary question (well, actually a few): If the bees are temporarily anaesthetised, do they fall from the comb? Or do they just cling to the comb in their comatose condition? For how long (how many minutes) is it likely that...

I used the “Search” function on this forum, hoping to find information on how to deal with an aggressive colony. I have a friend who has bees which are very defensive, in a non-urban environment. The colony is quite strong, fully occupying three Langstroth (10 frame) hive boxes, with one box...

Thank you for your response. I acknowledge that my experience has not been with OA, and I hope that you have success with your investigations and experiments. I can appreciate that only a very small amount of moisture is required. You mention gum arabic as a binding agent, and I wonder if you...

I think that I have an insight into why there may be variation in weight of the dried tablets. You refer to the mixture of powder and water as "dough". I would be inclined to have only a slightly damp mixture, which should be mixed very thoroughly to ensure that it has uniform consistency. If...

Reading through the various comments about powder, and tablets, and pressing tablets from powder, etc, . . . If you have a dry powder, then it seems very reasonable that a binding agent of some sort may be required. If the tablet under consideration needs to be vaporised, then it also seems...

The mulching machine I have is designed for garden use, and is especially suitable for green trimmings such as prunings from shrubs and trees. It accepts twigs, and small green branches up to 12-15mm thickness, as well as leaves and weedy material. It works best with damp material, and is...

Please allow me to express my sympathies with those of you who have difficulties with weeds in your gardens. I have no doubt that the weeds which have been mentioned – goose grass, chickweed, bindweed – all present real difficulties for gardeners. I do not recognise any of these weeds, (by the...

May I please offer my tuppence worth? This discussion thread started with information about a new book, “Beekeeping: Challenge what you are told”. Very quickly there were a range of comments, ranging from approval to derision of Roger Patterson who authored this book. The late Dave Cushman was...

Further to my letter, #14, I offer the following information. In an endeavour to find an answer to the question raised about Jarrah Honey, I have today phoned the Department of Primary Industries in Perth, and received advice which I hope will prove helpful to Cefn Eithaf. Jarrah trees do not...