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I would put it in my solar wax extractor to get the wax and bin the residue

Well that was an interesting talk, it certainly makes you think but also leaves a few questions. Perhaps the lesson to learn is that just because we have always done something one way doesn't make it right.

I have a very similar situation so popped in a test frame today to see what happens. With the predicted cold snap I don't expect to get another opportunity to inspect for a few weeks so, one way or another, things will be clearer

Thank you all for your replies. I have checked that the activity would be covered by the Council's insurance, which it will be. I am planning on 6 childrens' bee suits plus one adult for a teacher. The Risk Assessment will be carried out. I agree that an observation hive would be best, but I...

The children are, I believe, primary school age

I have been asked to host visits by schoolchildren to the apiary I manage. The hives belong to a Country Park Volunteers group and are sited on a council-owned country park (in a secure area away from public interference). Insurance-wise I am covered by my membership of my local beekeeping...

I should have said, there were 7 good frames of BIAS, all with drone brood on them , up to a quarter of a BN brood frame in a couple. I had considered a failing queen and supercedure. Does supercedure happen in early season as well as autumn?

I completed my first inspections on 3 hives today. All had drone brood but one in particular had a lot. No adult drones visible yet. My first thought was that it is a bit early for a lot of drone brood, second thought, I wonder if the colony are preparing for an early swarm? The colony had a lot...

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jun/25/hornets-race-to-protect-north-americas-honeybees-from-giant-invader-aoe This article in the Guardian makes interesting reading. Let's hope we never see these arrive in the UK

According to the Dave Cushman site, an OMF should be fine for a short journey of up to half an hour. I've done it for that length of journey with no problems as long as your car is cool inside on start. Late evening or even nightime would be best.

Yep, I agree. Try to work with an experienced beek and they will point such things out to you

Leave the escape holes open to allow non-hornets to get out easily. They won't all get out of course but the idea is to not kill 'useful' species such as wasps. Now if that doesn't open a debate ....

Two weeks isn't very long to decide you are queenless, I normally count on 4 weeks to decide. Definitely beg a frame of eggs off someone and try that.

Is your conservatory constructed on what was an old external wall perhaps, because I have a friend who has a conservatory built onto the walls of his old farm house and it has lots of miner bee holes in the cement. Possibly your bees are not honey bees at all? It is possible that the bees are...

We have 2 hives next to each other and although we have not needed to feed during the bad weather one has just about adequate stores and the other will be extracted this weekend as I can barely lift the super! You can never tell.

Could be the same swarm but I think you have done the right thing to home them separately. Once they have settled and you have checked them to see if they are queen -right, you can always combine them if one is not.

Thanks Finman, that is very useful information.

Which is why I asked for people's experiences of the system, rather than opinions.

In effect this is the MB anti swarm device. It involves opening an upper entrance above the QE and closing the lower entrance, then letting nature take it's course.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/11633567/Tiny-parasite-could-be-behind-massive-worldwide-decline-of-bees.html Interesting article in the Telegraph. We can all blame nosema ceranae for our problems now.