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I was down at the hives today for a look. Plenty of activity still, ivy pollen arriving by the basket-full! While I was watching one hive entrance I clearly saw a drone emerge and fly off. It's the latest I've ever seen a drone active. Any other drone sightings?

This is a photo of my hand which was inside a leather gauntlet when I went to a hive with some cross bees. I had a glove-full of angry bees on one hand, about 12 or 14 stings made it through the leather. This was probably my least productive hive this year. Alongside this hive I have a hive of...

My motto... When all else fails, read the instructions!

A very thorough and informative answer, thank you Karol. I'll PM for more info.

:iagree: A necessary disruption, as to do nothing would be irresponsible.

Thanks for all the comments and observations. Karol's reply is particularly interesting. If Karol could explain what protein feeding is and how one could precipitate, or more importantly avoid precipitating it please. I don't see colony strength as an issue Oliver, they are all (luckily after a...

Wasp traps were reactive, no trouble with wasps before treatment started.

I've noticed when treating my hives with MAQS recently, that the removal of the entrance block to aid ventilation has the disadvantage of giving wasps easier access to the hives. I've had no problem with wasps this year until I treated, but there was a noticeable increase in wasps getting into...

Other colony is in a different area, is quite strong and mite drop indicates no treatment necessary, so left without treating to see how MAQS worked on hive that obviously needed treatment. Treated hive was also treated after honey harvest last Aug with well known proprietary thymol pack. I...

Thanks for the reassurance folks, unfortunately Moggs not all beekeepers are born as experts in the craft as you so obviously feel the need to declare that you are. How wonderful it must be to be a master-beekeeper... and so quiet and humble too! You must be so sought after for the kind word and...

MAQS has just become available in Ireland, (I'm in the Southeast) so I have no experience of using it. I followed all the instructions when applying strips last Sat, and today (Mon) have noticed quite a lot of bees crawling on the ground in front of the hive. Most seem unable to fly, many...

I suppose they just squeezed in, maybe they were after the fondant. I was very surprised to find them.

This is my first attempt at queen rearing, three yrs into my beekeeping life! I have 5 apideas filled with bees and on checking them to see if they needed feeding I found at least three large black slugs hiding on the walls of each apidea (five in one). I have three at my home apiary, and two at...

I am in my second year of beekeeping this year. In July this year I was alerted to a swarm, which I captured, hived in a spare National hive and fed. Over the past few days I've noticed a serious wasp problem at this hive, my other hive seems ok. I've narrowed the entrance to about 40mm (1.5...

Used recipe from Collins Beekeeper's Bible, ie. "Rather than weighing and measuring, pour dry sugar into container and make it level. Stirring all the time, pour in boiling water to a line about 5mm (1/4in) above the sugar level Continue stirring until the sugar is dissolved."

I fed my first and only hive two weeks ago using an Ashforth feeder (Thornes). I have resisted the temptation to have a look on the advice of my local BKA, but with a fine day today, and the bes working very hard on the ivy, I couldn't resist. I just lifted the roof and looked through the hole...

Thanks Thank you all for the suggestions. I really like the idea of using water or syrup spray. Will have to try that on my next inspection. One of the local beekeepers has suggested denim from old jeans/jackets, which I used this evening. I got much more time and still had smoke to spare when...

Hi all, I'm another new bee, and an Irish one at that, not very many on site yet! I've recently set up my first hive and got a colony from a member of the local association, of which I'm a member. While in UK at a seminar recently I bought a deluxe beginners kit from one of the UK's main...