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Just had a look at the inserts in my varroa floors, checking varroa drops prior to honey removal (hopefully soon, time's ticking on...) and Apiguard application. I noticed all had quite a few tiny mites about the size of a ' . ' running around, bit like spider mites but not red. Seemed to be...

Apologies if this is something obvious but I noticed some behaviour from one of my Queens today that I couldn't work out, nor heard descriptions of before. Having spotted HM, I noticed her come across one worker, very normal looking, and pay great attention to her abdomen. HM stood directly...

In a bit of a quandry. Did an AS in may, and this is now on four frames of brood in all stages. My question is, how small is too small for a colony to be successfully overwintered? I'd like to keep the four colonies rather than go down to three, by preference. But does their size now mean it'll...

Just thought I'd share my latest bit of news. Had a Queen hatch four weeks ago, almost to the day, having done me an artificial swarm. She emerged from an 'emergency cell' (in middle of frame, modified from worker cell) that I'd missed, killed off the two nice fat 'swarm' cells i'd left. Oh...

Evening all, Just thought that I'd report my first honey harvest. Very proud, all four frames of it. Rape's just gone over by me, it's partly capped but no drops on shaking, and the rest of the super frames are either not ready or partly drawn. So I thought I'd pop them off before it sets...

Completed an artificial swarm last sunday, old queen in new box on old site, old hive on new site etc. Went well, watched the queen carefully back into the hive, all well so far. Went though the 'swarm' today, to make sure Queenie was laying ok and there were no more swarm cells to cock...

Evenin' all Did my A/S today and found myself a handful of swarm cells, and a couple of supercedure cells, all open. Removed all (that I found) except for two swarm cells. AS done in usual style, etc. However, I also found what I initially thought was a enlarged drone cell, sticking out...

After collecting my little swarm 10 days ago, they are now happily in a nuc, covering 2-3 frames, foraging well (when they can) and very good temperament. Went through them on sunday (7 days after collection), saw no eggs. This confirmed my suspicion that they didn't leave the last hive with...

Just collected my first swarm today. Lovely easy looking one, on a kiddie's climbing frame. Two tiny clusters which I initially took to be casts, as the house had been visited by another swarm about two weeks ago, same place. Brushed into the skep, popped them on the sheet, bees begin to come...

Afternoon all. Popped a bit of 1:1 syrup on yesterday to stimulate brooding hopefully in time for the OSR close by to me (colony inspected prior, enough room for it). Used a contact feeder for the job, all well and good. However, leaked like a sieve all day today as the day was warming up...

Had a wee peek through the glass quilt today and noticed that I have a fair amount of noticably small bees, smaller than normal. The hive is happy and healthy, heavy, plenty of stores, and flying in great numbers on warmer/sunnier days, bringing in pollen and water. I'm happy that they're...

Evenin' all. Pleasant afternoon watching the girls today, reasonable activity but nothing dramatic. I noticed a few play/orientation flights, but the majority of bees were up, away and heading off in the same direction, which was towards a wooded area and a lake which are nearby. I'm assuming...

Woop woop! After a long wait the BBKA shop is open! Selling a wide selection of... tat.

Evening all, second beginners question I've posted on here but I'd rather get opinions than not! Currently have the one hive (hence my keeness to do what I can to get them through the winter), which was well fed with 10 kg of 2:1 syrup in late september (or was it mid?). I hefted the hive...

Evenin all, new to the forum as just thought I'd pop a question to you all. Sat by my hive today I observed it was very active with plenty of coming and going, and even a little pollen coming in. Then I noticed a single drone return, waft about a bit as they do, then enter the hive. I'm...