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And of course 2 wings, as flies have, rather than 4 wings, as bees, wasps and hornets have.

Yes, I nearly put on a pair of leather gloves. How long do use spin each set of the frames for, as the max speed is much lower than when I hand crank on the old machine?

I’ve now assembled my three frame Vevor electric extractor (cost £180 free shipping), but not yet used it. The finish is poor, as I expected, with very sharp edges on the metal cross strut holding the motor. National frames fit ok, with a loop of cable tie to support each. Had a practice go...

What size ball bearing are they. I think I have lost mine.

Ok, fair enough. I hear you.

When bees cluster in the cold, some bees enter empty cells head first, and other bees wedge themselves into the spaces between the frames. That is normal cluster architecture particularly around the compact edge of the cluster. If the cluster dies - for any reason - the bees that were clinging...

I’m not sure that is what they do when they are starving. How long would it take for a bee to find out there is no honey in a cell? I think winter brood can be a menace because it traps the cluster over and around the brood. The cluster is less able to move towards the stores. However, the...

It’s a myth that bees with heads in cells is a sign of starvation. They might have starved, or they might not, but heads in that position is not a sign of starvation. Bees in cells head first is a part of the natural structure of a cluster. It is also the position taken by heater bees.

I’m currently selling my 150 lb honey crop at the door (£6 for 12oz by the way). The jars bear the botulism warning. The thing that worries me most is the possibility of the honey being contaminated with solid objects, such as very small pieces of glass, metal or wood. The only “treatment” the...

Yes.

If you haven’t bottled it yet you mix it with 10% soft set honey (some of last year’s) and make seeded soft set honey. My summer honey hardly ever crystallises. I put it down to a high level of blackberry nectar which has relatively high level of fructose.

I use exterior masonry paint. Goes on easily, dries quickly and is relatively cheap. I use white, to keep cooler in summer and warmer in winter.

Is £5.99 too high or too low? I sell 12oz jars for £6 at the door.

Probably better to not re-label it, just sell it on.

Beekeeping dipped during the 80s when varroa first hit but it recovered. Since 2010 the number of beekeepers and the number of domestic colonies has grown annually. It is a myth that there is currently a decline in honey bees in the U.K. It is true that there is a decline in many species of...

A couple of small teazles from my garden.

Did you test the water content?

I use 2 kilos of sugar to 1 litre (kilo) of water.

I paint all my hives in white masonry paint. Very little heat escape by radiation , ( and good reflection in sumner)It’s important to keep hives completely waterproof. You don’t want sodden wood with low internal temperatures.