Combining a very aggressive hive

[Fritillary]

A lot of my beekeeping practices are modified by hindsight. Thankfully most of it somebody else's

I like that a lot! - Relative of the 'standing on shoulders of giants' thing.

 

[aj180949]

'ethyl acetate. Looks better than the more customary petrol or soapy water'

Hi,
Why do you use ethyl acetate and what for? Is it to kill the bees and if so - how applied?

 

[Bevbee]

Sorry for the delay in replying .

Okay husband was still saying " sorry !" And looking very fearful for days. But then I got a grip .This is what happened.

1/ I united 5 frames ( of nasty bees ) with the swarm ( these were the frames I had just placed in a nuc when doing the original search for Q) I didn't want to leave them without stores or flying bees in that heat and after so many searches I was sure Q was not there . I left the original brood box with a super away from the original site .

2/ A day later while putting a clearing board on one of my other hives ( one closest to where nasty hive had been) I was stung ! Later noticed a fair few bees on the inspection board underneath the mesh floor of this hive . Pulled it out and there was the queen . No squeamishness this time as I had developed quite a resentment towards the poor insect . I killed her quickly with my hive tool and deposited her subjects on the landing board of the same hive . I thought this might be stupid , but figured they must have lived with the smell of this colony and they did seem to be accepted

3/ Removed the queen cells off the original BB and united. All supers now off and all hives have a pack of apiguard to work through.

Thank you all for your fantastic support and advice - I REALLY REALLY appreciate it . I have learned so much from your posts . I love the humour too . Thank you all xxx

 

[Bevbee]

Good stuff though
A lot of my beekeeping practices are modified by hindsight. Thankfully most of it somebody else's

Thanks especially for your advice re q returning to original location . That makes total sense now . And that is exactly what she did

 

[Erichalfbee]

Thanks especially for your advice re q returning to original location . That makes total sense now . And that is exactly what she did

So pleased you got it fixed.And that your husband survived.

 

[enrico]

So pleased you got it fixed.And that your husband survived.

Woohoo! Well done to you both. It so satisfying to find that queen that has caused so much trouble.squish.......ahhhhhh.......

 

[madasafish]

Thank you all for your fantastic support and advice - I REALLY REALLY appreciate it . I have learned so much from your posts . I love the humour too . Thank you all xxx

Thanks for finishing the story. Glad it went well.
I was waiting to hear husband had been beaten severely with a hive tool...

 

[Amari]

Sorry for the late reply. Stuart Spinks of the Norfolk Honey Company does a monthly tutorial on U-tube for subscribers, which are later available to all. My info is from 'A necessary but unpleasant task', Aug 11 - the best way to kill an impossibly angry colony or drone laying worker colony. https://www.patreon.com/posts/neces...Q.octeDVimT7TMoGezWxrdnpT-CUhZGM27_Qe5CDCBmvk

Edit: sorry, link seems not to work. Google Norfolk Honey Company

 

[linoleum bonypart]

Shame you could have done it other ways and kept 3 hives instead of losing a hive

 

[Bevbee]

So pleased you got it fixed.And that your husband survived.

It was a close call at one point x

 

[Bevbee]

Shame you could have done it other ways and kept 3 hives instead of losing a hive

No , I have kept three hives . The swarm I collected was the fourth and I United the aggressive colony with this. I only want three colonies as that is what is covered by my local beekeeping association insurance.

Would you have re queened the aggressive colony ? If so how would you have done it ? I do not have any spare queens and the colonies I do have are not producing swarm or supersedure qc .

When I was removing the emergency qc from the aggressive hive box ( after the queen had flown ) I did wonder if the bees in there would accept a frame of eggs from one of the other hives . This would have meant 3+ weeks without a laying queen ( in addition to the week already lost ) and I thought this would not be good for Winter bees - too late ?

As I said I am happy with the three hives , but I would be really interested to know your thoughts .