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An elderly neighbour with one hive asked me for help with a small swarm. It was probably from his hive, but then other neighbours reckon we've got their swarms as well! (I'm half expecting them to ask for their bees back) Anyway I caught that swarm in a nuc about three weeks ago, and it seems...

Apologies if this has been posted before. In the latest BBKA magazine is an interesting article on one beekeepers experiences. Things like no varoa treatment is better for the hive. The other thing mentioned was not using a mesh floor, because it frustrates the bees less. That kind-of matches...

Apologies in advance if this is numpty questions, but I've read conflicting articles and am now confused. Some articles I've read suggest that a virgin queen (with a swarm) mates as soon as she has swarmed, before finding a new home. Other articles suggest it is days or weeks after swarming...

As we're been so short of hot weather, it might seem like a strange question. But I've been away all day, just got back c.9.30pm, at a time when all the bees have usually gone to bed. Only to find LOTS lying dormant on the landing board in front of the hive. So dormant I thought they were dead...

A friend who is an experienced beekeeper has told me to add an extra Super to my hive, which so far only has one. No problem, I have bought the parts and assembled it. But my friend is away on holiday, and now I'm wondering - should a new empty super go above or below the existing one?

I spend a few minutes watching the incoming bees, counting how many did (and didn't have) balls of pollen on their legs. I reckon one-third had pollen. Does that mean the rest are foraging for nectar and/or water instead of pollen? What proportion of your bees come back with pollen?

As far as I can tell, the bees from my hive are flying off towards fields of rapeseed in flower. Whereas close to the hive I have rows of raspberries and blackcurrents. Those plants are just starting to flower, and are well covered in bumble bees. Which is great, but the honey bees don't seem...