Search results

Don't worry, not Apivar fail. Except for the worst one they were treated with Apiguard in September. The worst 1500v hive was a late supercedure/split so decided not to treat while getting mated and established. The 1000v hive had a high mite drop coming out of last winter so put Apivar in for...

Counted the varroa drop following OAD 7 days ago. 800v, 1000v, 1500v totals where alarming. Hope they make it through.

The first united hive. Even if they are queenless the bees will look after the comb overwinter, keeping down the wax moth and you won't have to freeze it, store it. And it will be useable for a new hive in spring.

Agree, I've got this idea that I want bees that . . . "know what they're doing". They don't expect me to come back with more stores over-winter so they should naturally shrink down and cluster with what they have (which from notes was a full BB of honey in early October). My 3 other 2024 queens...

Someone else suggested that you also get a significant drop of dead bees but not checked this myself. Yes, I don't like doing it but a couple of my colonies are dropping 20+ mites per day. I used ApiVar early in the year before supers ( and Apiguard after).

7degC and overcast. I thought between 5 and 10degC, between clustered tight and flying was the right temperature. Photo was after I'd done the dribble. The top of the bottom box looked the same. I was expecting them to be mostly in the bottom box but they were right up to the crown board. Much...

Today I dribbled. This hive on double brood was strangely big and DEFENSIVE. Not sure what's going on with them but see you in April.

Been there. But it was only 12' up.

Covered in bees during the summer they must have been huge. Hang a bait hive in that tree next year.

A trait for occasional complete randomness might work as an evolutionary advantage. If the weather into next season is very unusual the bees that have done something daft might make it through when others don't. 🤷‍♂️ Anywho, stood around and watched the entrances for 5 mins and all active...

Mine too. If fresh pollen is what stimulates laying, when are they most likely to be broodless? Perennial question, I guess.

Always fun to watch him get stung in the face! :LOL: :LOL: :LOL: He says that his bees are a lot more pleasant these days but trying to film with an open frame at this time of year is pushing it. Wouldn't blame them after being dragged out of a nice warm hive. I'm looking to do my solitary OAD...

I scanned and uploaded all the significant family photos to Flickr a few years ago and let the family know where they could browse and download them. Unfortunately Flickr decided to stop giving this free space and they disappeared. Still have the originals and the scans. If anyone knows of a...

Some light reading for those cold nights to come.:unsure:

Watched a video on Bob Binnie's channel about using oxalic/glycerin impregnated sponges. At the end there was a slide from a couple of American beekeepers of their treatment regime. 4 gram dose, twice. Langstroths are bigger. Southern states of America. We had a talk at the club from a local bee...

Not as many as this but saw today immature bees (white abdomens) thrown out the front. They have a high varroa level. Last treatment was Apiguard through September. Waiting to OAD in couple of weeks. My guess is that some brood was chilled when we had a -7degC overnight a few days ago. ? Don't...

Missed me. Lack of classical education. ? Thanks for that.

Friend's mother. Retired headmistress. She is Welsh tho' ! :LOL:

I've only helped out at the club apiary a few times this year. Organised on WhatsApp (#edit named "Beginners Beekeeping Group") or Facebook on a Saturday afternoon. Apiary manager and one experienced beek there each time directing the inspections. I worry I'm doing things differently from the...

While doing some extracting in the kitchen, discovered I have a spider living under the cupboard. Lazy bees coming out of the supers provided breakfast and dinner. Not fond of these long-legged cellar spiders. Damned invasive species. Think they moved in with a cheap chest of drawers that...