Apedias

[Etton]

I have two apedias, one too strong (Bee clustering outside) and one weaker. Could I swap positions so the flying bees from the strong one return to the weaker one and balance things out or will they fight?

 

[Mark6629]

Watching....I have this exact problem.

 

[beeno]

Since you both have a number of hives make up nucs for them!

 

[Mark6629]

Since you both have a number of hives make up nucs for them!

Beeno, Thats what I intend to do, just waiting for more nucs to be delivered, Ive screwed in the queen excluder to stop her absconding, just wondered if we could do what @etton said in the time being, as the returning bees would be bringing stores back they'd be accepted????

Thanks

 

[For want of a better word]

I have two apedias, one too strong (Bee clustering outside) and one weaker. Could I swap positions so the flying bees from the strong one return to the weaker one and balance things out or will they fight?

Should be OK

One very well respected beekeeper I knew would regularly swap colonies around to balance them out.... now retired from keeping bees, but in his time a well known breeder of the Native dark Cornish honeybees.

Chons da

 

[drex]

In spring I routinely swap hive positions to even them out. Never had a problem. I believe Ted Hooper mentions it in his book. Don't see why it would be different with apideas, but have never used them.

 

[beeno]

In spring I routinely swap hive positions to even them out. Never had a problem. I believe Ted Hooper mentions it in his book. Don't see why it would be different with apideas, but have never used them.

He also mentions tearing down QC.

 

[For want of a better word]

He also mentions tearing down QC.

In Apideas?

 

[drex]

He also mentions tearing down QC.

So, you've never torn down a queen cell?

 

[beeno]

So, you've never torn down a queen cell?

Of course I have, as long as you realise that they may swarm in 5 days if you do so - or not as the case may be. However, many on here strongly disagree with doing so. Just wanted to point out a place where it is advocated in the literature and this is often the first book beginners read.

 

[drex]

But before this (as far as I can find) he also says" when queen cells are found.....action should be taken immediately to produce the AS" .
He talks about destroying queen cells under the heading " the requeening method of swarm control" .
IMHO HOoper is a valuable resource, if a little dated, but so is a lot of the literature.
It was the first book I read and a great help in my first couple of years. My shelves are now groaning under the weight of bee books, but I still refer to Hooper a lot

 

[jeff33]

I have 1 queen absconding from my apidea this year.