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Hi Mark - I think this correct although I declare an interest as someone who will be looking to supply queens from Varroa resistant colonies in the future. I think multiple mechanisms are at play in naturally resistant stock and survival coupled with consistently low mite levels provide the...

There are some of us who are already working towards being able to supply varroa resistant bees that can survive in fairly challenging conditions such as the West of Scotland. I expect to be selling over-wintered nucs in 2023. The original resistant stock I started with were fairly poor on...

I agree - Security will be a much larger financial risk for farmers and DEFRA could not afford to alienate them so they will have secure systems. Maybe IndiBee can try and break into BeeBase and let us how he gets on....

There was a recent case of foulbrood near to a couple of my apiaries and the SBI used Beebase to identify where they were and got in touch to do a fairly rapid inspection (all clear). The system is working and I think the security risks are minimal.

I learned that the success rate with mating nucs can be very dependent on where they are located - attached to stands on large trees in woodland much better than an open plot a little over a mile away. 75% vs 20%.

Pollen from Rosebay willow herb is very dark and there is usually some of that around

If there are no detectable mites then why is everyone advocating applying another treatment? That is the way to select for multiple resistant mites.

Meadowsweet pollen is more of a tan/dirty orange colour and often looks sticky

Useful to check if they are charged queen cells containing a larvae or empy play-cups. The latter are fairly common and I just remove them so I don't get distracted by them next time.

Why did you introduce a second frame of larvae? Without that you would have had a longer period of being hopelessly queenless.

Hawthorn just about done, brambles not yet out, lime probably 4 weeks away but seldom hot enough here to yield much. Hoping willow herb will be out soon...

Are they taking eggs from the caged queen and using them to charge QC?

I use Maisemore brood extenders on the BS nucs - easy to shave off 3mm from the top-bar lips - sharp box knife and a wooden flat as a guide. Do it more to reduce space at bottom than top but it does mean less problems replacing the feeder etc

Would need to get a microbiologist on board to determine what exposure times are needed. I suspect 48H is quite sufficient which would minimise damage to wire but this would need to be tested.

Stainless steel wire is absolutely fine in my foundationless frames and vaseline protects the nails. Given the discrepancy in dosing amounts the time of dosing is also probably way too long but that would need to be tested. I wonder if any attempts were made to optimise the published protocol...

Thank you - perhaps acetic acid treatment would become more popular if folk were having to handle 50 time less than they currently are asked to!

The amount of acetic acid that has been recommended by NBU etc is completely bonkers. To achieve a saturated vapour presssure of acetic acid within a brood box at say 15 degC requires less than 2 ml. Thus, if you have 4 boxes stacked up and well sealed then 10-15 ml is enough to do the job...

Have you interupted an orientation flight of a virgin queen? Often a lot of bees initially go out with her and then return back to the colony - how long after they emerged did you collect them?

Just bought a Swienty Breeze suit and very happy with it - there is a review here https://www.freshfromthehive.co.uk/swienty-breeze-bee-suit-review/

That looks to me like the bees are practicing varroa trapping in the drone brood - I have seen similar in untreated colonies. Opening and recapping to remove mites.