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    Extrafloral Nectaries

    Let gardeners be aware! I was weeding and I became aware of bees crawling inside the clumps of new growth of Forget-me-nots. First I thought they may be after water, but the foliage was dry and they were not on the soil. Since I am replanting some of my self-seeded Forget-me-nots in different...
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    Uncontaminated wax from Africa

    I have come across references where companies state that they import beeswax from Africa because they practice treatment free beekeeping on that continent. Inference being that they are too poor to afford the treatments for their colonies which are housed in topbar hives on natural comb in a...
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    First sting of the year

    Following my systemic reaction to a wasp sting, being told not to pick up any more bee stings, and issued with an Epipen I was stung through the veil on my chin as I pulled one frame in the middle of the brood nest, looking for brood in preparation for OA dribbling. They weren't well pleased...
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    Bee suit zips

    Can be found at Jaycotts.co.uk Slightly courser than my existing Sherriff.
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    Effectiveness of OA sublimation in practice

    Some people on the forum end up vaping OA more than 3 times every 5 days, which makes one think that it is not a very effective treatment, and then resort to another treatment with considerable drop. I found the following quote from scientific beekeeping which may throw some light on the...
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    Toadflax

    Hi all, I have identified that my bees are collecting copious amounts of toadflax pollen. Do they collect nectar from these plants and how? Are their tongues long enough or are they dependent on bumble bees to make a hole for them a la bumble bees on broad beans or don't they collect any...
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    Rainwater

    Most of the literature and beekeepers state not to use tap water but rainwater to render wax, because the lime in tap water causes a bloom in the wax. Others state it is the chlorine in water. "Chlorine gas dissolved in lime-water (dilute calcium hydroxide) to form calcium hypochlorite...
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    She said no, no, no... no

    Day 5/6 the virgin were pushed out of the Apidea four times and she managed to sneak back in without taking flight. Following day was cold. The day after she was pushed out, took flight, once a small circle around the apidea and off she went in a southeasterly direction. She flew...
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    Swarm Returned

    I decided to leave three QC in a split to see if the first virgin out would killed the other two as the theory goes. She did, but she missed one that I had missed too! However, when they swarmed she did not go with them which was obvious from the swarms behaviour. They were aimlessly swarming...
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    Up to 70% less than 10 days old leave with swarm

    Hi Folks, Thought I make a new thread about this controversial, but important part of our understand of beekeeping. The statement below is generally accepted in the literature and makes perfect sense to me, but not accepted by a lot of beekeepers. I seem to recall Seeley had checked it out...
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    Taranov Board

    Hi all, Anyone tried the Taranov Board method of swarm control? It seems attractive in that it gives you an age distribution closer to a natural swarm, but seem a bit risky. If the colony is close to swarming is there not a risk that the swarm will fly off anyhow or is it based on having a...
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    Pollination Contracts

    Hi all, I would like some information on how long one is expected to leave hives on various crops. I read 4 weeks from flowering having started for OSR? Also, interested in finding this information for Field Beans, Borage, Top Fruits and Soft fruits and seeds. I realise it is weather...
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    Worst Year for European Hornets and Wasps?

    Most wasps and European Hornets I have ever seen in my apiary constantly harrassing the colonies. So far they have not gained access to the colonies, but far too much effort goes into guard duties. They are on fully opened entrances at the moment as they are receiving MAQS treatment. I plan to...
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    Seeing Red or Not

    Of late I have found that the red paint of my queen marking Posca pen is very quickly cleaned off by the bees. Not had this problem with white or green. The thorax has been marked well, but there is only a hairline large circle left on closer inspection. I can accept that it happens on...
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    Hawthorn watch 2018

    My hives are foraging nearly exclusively on hawthorn pollen at the moment. I am assuming there is a hawthorn flow this year as hives smell strongly of hawthorn and frames contain medium coloured honey. Anyone else?
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    Late matings

    Hi all, Thought I try some late matings this year, as I had two nucs to spare and really should have less bees in my garden, and as the long range forecast promised a warm September. Did not have many drones myself, but they were flying and with 240 apiaries in a 10km radius I might be lucky...
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    A real Hornet's Nest

    Hi all, Yesterday, I destroyed a European hornet's nest the size of a tennis ball in a yew tree 2m away from two of my bee hives in my garden. I used my usual pest control tool of an old hoover, so no pesticides used. I did not find the hornets particularly aggressive, but it was a very small...
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    Going Bananas

    Hi all, I have tried to eradicate Ascospheara apis, chalkbrood, in one of my colonies. After moving them onto new foundation, which they have drawn beautifully, and introducing a new strain queen which has just started to lay and giving them some emerging brood, I was very disappointed to find...
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    Ivy Watch

    I know we had a heads-up from someone on the forum that Ivy was in flower, but could not find the thread. Ivy is about 3 weeks away here or so I thought, but apparently not. Got a couple of frames with some Ivy in them, so I hurriedly cleared all my supers today. Must say that I have not seen...
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    Composition of OSR Honey

    Hi all, Been searching for this info, but sadly failed in finding it. Anyone out there know the answer.
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