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A few of these pinkish larvae are appearing over the crownboard on some hives ... Any idea as to what they might be? My fingers are crossed not Wax Moth... Bees coming up via CB Feed Hole went for one with vigorous stinging and pulling apart... I've not witnessed them previously.

Does Heather Honey (HH) have a shorter shelf life than main stream honey?? I have been informed on two occasions that it goes off after approximately a year. Can the HH folk here advise if this is true?? Didn’t have HH here up to last season and was unexpectedly left with 75Kg … not easily...

Rather involved story of tree falling, road side cover lost and an ongoing problem of bees following, meeting, and stinging. I will if bees not a threat to others attempt a requeen (my usual solution). However, this new context allows it may be necessary to terminate the unit. I am aware of the...

Q: Supers plastic bagged and stacked over winter. Noted some of the plastic bag at sides have been shredded by I suspect rodents but no entry made to boxes/frames. Is it ok to add these supers (wet) to hives? Do they require hosing down?? I note comments recently in an earlier thread re Weil’s...

Followed recipe (??)… 30g Thymol crystals with 5 ml Isopropyl Alcohol. 140ml boiling water + 1 Teaspoon Lecithin dissolved and added together to form milky white ‘liquid’ as anticipated. This morning it is wax solid… candle like… didn’t anticipate this ... Have I missed a step??? Or do I chip...

Have x 2 double Apideas [Q+] seeking winter accommodation. Two options: Have them share a divided BS Nuc where each would have 3 frames each side of a metal or plastic divider? Shared heat but small units. OR Hive one in a Poly Nuc (6f) and one in wooden Nuc (5F). In either case could allow...

For the first time the apiary has been swamped in Heather Honey :mad:(Blast!!!) … The Hives are national double brood. Whereas the supers are now off, the vagabonds have used the top brood boxes as aux supers and filled and capped across the frames to the detriment of laying space. I have...

Overwintered Nuc, with queen marching about. Look in and a half frame of eggs, revisit no egg and no other brood stage. Revisit and same routine again. Mystery is that here are approx. 3 frames of bees still within. History: a troublesome swarm cast that was v difficult to Q but did so. Wouldn’t...

Resolved ....

Discovered Deformed Wings in a colony that was not progressing as others were. Vaped and found a heavy mite fall. We cannot get MAQS here at present, so applied ApiGuard which resulted in a very severe fall. As usual the bees dislike the ApiG and spend time on the landing board … However, I...

I have noted in two colonies what looks like Chalk Brood but impacting Drone only … Cells appear torn down and drone larvae debris (like dried out CB) left. Worker brood (extensive) not impacted. I have vaped recently but would imagine any negative effect to would cover both Drone/Worker larvae...

Marking a Q for beginner yesterday noted he is using castellations in super with Hoffman frames. The space between frames appears rather broad and bees in drawing out, are ‘naturally’(??) bridging between the opposing frames (a bloc). It will prove a nightmare of ‘forced separation’ come...

To cut to chase: I am having difficulty in getting some Nucs to take down syrup. I am using Maizey and Paynes feeders. The bees simply appear to die on contact with the liquid and the remainder standoff. At first, I thought it was a commercial additive in the syrup, but a similar pattern applies...

Reading through the formula for Thymolated syrup in technical section. Have Isopropyl 99% Alcohol :p. Is this the strength envisaged? Would'nt leave us too healthy :)

When using Gas Vape is it necessary to seal off all hive openings as when using Varrox Vaporiser?

Two ‘bait’ hives set, and both have and have had, a knot of bees (50+) sitting in the entrance(s) for some weeks. Occasional bursts of flying/measuring and evening time all gone back from whence they came. Despite the occasional frenzy all very relaxed. My notion is that they are from hive(s)...

A quickie: Why would one opt for a copper smoker over stainless steel? Is it purely a personal preference or are there advantages/disadvantages to one over the other? My own (SS) is about to retire and am looking at replacing.

A reasonably docile hive has become very agitated since I demareed. Is this a common or frequent reaction to the method? Frustration at being thwarted. They didn’t produce Q cells in the top box (yet).

Vaporising: To date have used Varrox Vap with basic nasal/mouth cove [Stood up-wind]. GasVap demands better face mask/filter. Searches have brought me to 3M 6000 series Mask and 60923 (Pink Yellow) Filters. Can any members advise as to what Facial PPE they are using/recommend when sublimating...

To date I have used Api-Bioxal by way of Varrox vaporiser. Thinking of going GasVap. Is all OA of the same concentration – safe for Bee usage? If so, can Oxalic Acid be purchased other than in the Api-Bioxal formula/packaging?