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It’s the end of January, The bees arrived last May and I set them up on my allotment. My first ever colony. I’d already read Ted Hooper’s bee bible and had many talks with my mentor. A very helpful fellow and absolutely one with the bees. Prior to purchasing my colony I’d visited his apiary and...

Hi there, I'm going to shove some fondant into the hive next time the weather picks up. Is it best to make or buy? If buy which make is the best and where do I get it at its cheapest? Cheers folk Mark

Thanks for the comments folk. The Drones would be an issue. They have no use as such other than being flying genetailia. However, When the ladies get fed up with them and want them out how would that happen with a QE under the brood chamber. How would the bees expell any debris that is bigger...

Thanks for all the advise guys. I think I will wait for a nicve warm weekend and open up and shine a torch down the frames to see if they have stores. I'll drop some fondant in there then. I changed teh floor to a mesh floor late last year just atfter I treated for Varoa. It was useful as I...

Good Evening again, I didn't want to ask two questions on the same thread as they are not related subjects. I was reading the latest issue of BBKA News, specifically the article wrt prevention of swarming, and the gentleman's idea of making a weight activated hive entrance door, when an idea...

Good evening Folks. I'm after a bit of advise really. I noticed the weather was warm today so I wondered up to my hive on my allotment. It is the first winter for my first hive and so hefting the hive is a waste of time for me as I can't remember how it felt in October when I finished feeding...

Thanks for the responses, think I might mouse guard just incase. Dahlias? Not that I can see, however, I've noticed my bees don't seem to be hanging about. straight up and off. Mark

that's good news, thanks guys. I've put a stick infront of the enterance which allows one or two max bees in and out because I had a bit of a syrup spill followed by a bit of a wasp issue. I have an old wooden ouse guard, is it worth damaging the hive by screwing it on considering my hive...

This is my first year and due to inexperience I had trouble getting the feeding started in September. I wasted about 8kg of sugar and about two weeks of the month by feeding them solutions which crystallises. By mid September I had mastered the technique and was making good thick (but not too...

actually forget it, just found it: Eristalix pertenax. Cheers Mark

I got my national and my bees in May, read Hooper (along with three other not so good books) cover to cover and got my self a mentor who's helping me through difficulties. I think I'll be popping up my local BKA when they kick start again next year. I thought this was a hover fly too when I...

Hi, I took a photo of these bees which look just like honey bees but the patterning is different. They are 100% bees and are the same size as honey bees. Any ideas? Cheers Mark

I've just reviewed the photos and noticed something. The end of the legs seem to be shaped like they are used to 'grip' onto something. What I mean to say, if this was a mite which was a scavenger on pollen and not on the bee, why would it have these gripping appendages? It's just an idea. I...

its not that because it didn't splatter when I used the tweezers to pick it up

Thanks for the response guys, I'm eager to find out what it is then because I found two varroa, which looked identical to the ones in the DEFRA leaflet, however, this one, like I said earlier, was about half the size, but it was really moving until I caught it with tweezers. Didnt seem to damage...

Today I decided I would take the solid base off the hive and exchange it for a meshed bottom. This gave me the opportunity to evaluate the Mite drop (I'm on the fourth week of treating right now. I was supprised to find only three dead mites and one alive one. I caught the little get, put him...

I've checked google images and none of the insects mentioned above are what I saw. It was larger than a honey bee. The wings were really very similar to the horse fly. Thee was a distinctive white band mid body under its wings. It flew like a bee. I really wish I had my camera. I did a hive...

I've been seeing a strange fly around my hive of late and I sat watching it and it went into teh hive while the bees were very busy. It fist flew up into groups of bees I guess getting the smeel of them onto him, then in he went. As a description I'd say he looked like a cross between a blue...

Got some now, thanks for the responces.

Hi, I'm after a swarm. will pay £120 I particularly want to pick it up tuesday 31st May (I've got the day off and I'm run off my feet until then.) Please email me if you can help me. Cheers Mark [email protected]