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We use halved plastic drinking straws

I bet that would be Ivy Bees rather than a swarm. We had dozens of swarm reports last Sept/Oct and all of them were Ivy Bees.

The Q- does indeed have a super on.

I have a newly emerged queen in a 6 frame poly nuc, she's mated successfully and has 2 frames of brood. I have a Q- large colony 6 feet away on brood and a half. What's the best way to merge the two?

Thanks for the update Kazmcc. They are spreading very quickly. I wonder if they may out-compete with honeybees for the ivy pollen and nectar and if this could have an effect on colony survival if beekeepers rely on ivy for winter stores? (I know they shouldn't but I bet some do)

I'm swarm co-ordinator for my area and so my number is easily available. Over the last couple of weeks I've had at least 2 calls a day and as many as five regarding bees in lawns. People were adamant they weren't bumble bees and more like wasps but coming out of their lawns not from nests. I've...

Ragwort, my bees have done the same. It happens every year but only in one hive... weird

I shall go along the route of 'let them get on with it' There's still plenty of drones about so I'll find out eventually what happens (present queen is marked)

Well done you! (It's a lovely feeling to know someone thinks you have a certain level of competence!)

When I checked my hives today, all well, queen laying really well and honey coming along nicely, well behaved bees. I got to the last frame of brood and there was a lovely single queen cell, right in the centre of the frame. Looks like a half grown larva inside, lots of royal jelly. The present...

I like that idea, Icanhopit! (I've got some UV paint in the garage)

Washing soda solution cleans propolis as well as killing off pathogens, add a little washing up liquid to the mix and it works even better. I think propolis production in excess is down to the genes of the queen. I have this problem with one of my hives and I'm hoping to re-queen sooner rather...

Mine were inspected for the first time earlier this year, mainly because my hives are located near a channel port and I was given lots of useful advice about how to check for Small Hive Beetle. I found the inspection really helpful and not intimidating at all. (My bees were praised for their...

I want to transfer a frame of sealed brood from an out apiary 15 minutes drive away to give a very small colony a boost. What is the best way to keep it from getting chilled?

Hi all, I'm so pleased with a small success I've had yesterday. I was called out to a swarm on Thursday but it was 20ft up a spindly tree, behind a large pond so no chance of getting it. I had a poly nuc with me with a couple of really old brood frames in it. I added a drop of lemongrass oil to...

I think I'll stick with proper nationals!

Has anyone been using these with the wax coated foundation? Are they any good are is it a pain having kit of a different size or can they be used in ordinary nationals? The prices are good or is that because no one wants them

I have recently moved my hives to land at the back of a council owned cemetery and I've been sent a contract to sign. Most of it I'm happy with but this section makes me wonder what exactly my 'duty of care' would entail to the intruders. The wording is: You as beekeeper have a Duty of Care...

Thanks for all the advice everyone. It was a lovely calm sunny day in Sussex today so the brood box was swapped at the original site but otherwise as Pargyle advised. All went well, it only took a few minutes and within 10 minutes all the flying bees were in the hive and none left in the old...

Someone is giving me their colony of bees. The drawback is that he wants his hive and so the colony needs to be transferred to one of my hives. For reasons not needed here we have to move them anyway in the next week or so, hence the urgency to get it done. Is this too risky at this time of...