Crafty mouse

[Newbeeneil]

I was checking on fondant in a double nuc today and took the top off to find the insulation had been nibbled. When I lifted the insulation I found this little field mouse taking advantage of the insulation! He hasn't found the fondant yet but there is still time. It's a strong nuc so I would guess the mouse didn't fancy his chances in the hive so chose a warm place under the roof.

 

[Monbees]

I was checking on fondant in a double nuc today and took the top off to find the insulation had been nibbled. When I lifted the insulation I found this little field mouse taking advantage of the insulation! He hasn't found the fondant yet but there is still time. It's a strong nuc so I would guess the mouse didn't fancy his chances in the hive so chose a warm place under the roof.

I would have thought eating the insulation would kill him?

 

[Erichalfbee]

I would have thought eating the insulation would kill him?

Is it eating it or shredding it?

 

[Newbeeneil]

I would have thought eating the insulation would kill him?

It wasn’t being eaten, he was hollowing out a cavity. Nice and cosy over winter with underfloor heating!

 

[pargyle]

It wasn’t being eaten, he was hollowing out a cavity. Nice and cosy over winter with underfloor heating!

How did the mouse get into the roof space ? I have timber nucs but the roofs sit squarely on the top of the Nuc ..there is no gap that a mouse could get in through ?

You might consider modifying the roof if there is a space for a mouse to get in .. once they have left their odour behind you will find that they or their mates will return.

Pretty little mouse though ... I hope it survived - I know, I'm a big softie but it was only looking for a cosy home to settle down for winter and you provided it !

 

[Monbees]

It wasn’t being eaten, he was hollowing out a cavity. Nice and cosy over winter with underfloor heating!

I often wonder about bees nibbling polystyrene insulation, whether it harms them? Showing my ignorance of insect physiology here, but can bees 'eat', or only drink, as in nectar

 

[Newbeeneil]

How did the mouse get into the roof space ? I have timber nucs but the roofs sit squarely on the top of the Nuc ..there is no gap that a mouse could get in through ?

You might consider modifying the roof if there is a space for a mouse to get in .. once they have left their odour behind you will find that they or their mates will return.

Pretty little mouse though ... I hope it survived - I know, I'm a big softie but it was only looking for a cosy home to settle down for winter and you provided it !

The mouse wasn't in the roof space until I lifted the roof and 4" deep PIR to look at the fondant. My crown boards have a 40-50mm lip that the PIR fits snugly into. Before I lifted the lid I assume the mouse was between the lid and the PIR nibbling out the recess.
I had another look this morning when I was in the apiary and there is no sign of any more excavation. I'm like you Phillip, a bit of a softy and I was quite disappointed he hadn't taken up residence.

 

[Pembroke]

I often wonder about bees nibbling polystyrene insulation, whether it harms them? Showing my ignorance of insect physiology here, but can bees 'eat', or only drink, as in nectar

Well there was some stories of bees nibbling the outer casing of varroa mites to kill them rather than sting so that would imply they can bite. Where I've read about using the polystyrene insulation for beehives the advice has always been to seal the edges with the aluminium tape used to join the boards together in house installations otherwise the bees will get into it and it's a devils own job getting them out again. Something like this: Aluminium Foil Tape 100mm x 45m (toolstation.com) (Other products and suppliers are available).

 

[understanding_bees]

Well there was some stories of bees nibbling the outer casing of varroa mites to kill them rather than sting so that would imply they can bite. Where I've read about using the polystyrene insulation for beehives the advice has always been to seal the edges with the aluminium tape used to join the boards together in house installations otherwise the bees will get into it and it's a devils own job getting them out again. Something like this: Aluminium Foil Tape 100mm x 45m (toolstation.com) (Other products and suppliers are available).

Can bees bite? Yes, they can.
Some time ago, I used some fibreglass insect screen in a hive base, to restrict the bees, and they chewed it out.

 

[Little_bees]

I often wonder about bees nibbling polystyrene insulation, whether it harms them? Showing my ignorance of insect physiology here, but can bees 'eat', or only drink, as in nectar

Bees eat pollen as well as drinking nectar.

They also use their strong mandibles to chew, e.g when building wax. The very first thing they do as a newly-emerged bee is chew their way out of the cell!
They'll also chew anything which is in their way which they can't move freely, e.g newspaper for uniting. They don't swallow it though!

 

[Erichalfbee]

They don't swallow it though!

Sound advice

 

[understanding_bees]

Bees eat pollen as well as drinking nectar.

They also use their strong mandibles to chew, e.g when building wax. The very first thing they do as a newly-emerged bee is chew their way out of the cell!
They'll also chew anything which is in their way which they can't move freely, e.g newspaper for uniting. They don't swallow it though!

I forgot to mention in my previous post (about bees being able to chew) - bees can chew rubber bands.
I was able to collect a swarm very recently, and they set about making new comb very quickly. I used rubber bands to hold this new comb into position in a honey frame, and within a couple of days they had chewed through most of the rubber bands, and dragged them out of the hive..

 

[Curly green finger's]

I've observed bees chewing at the hive entrance trying to make the reduced entrance bigger.
Secondary entrances the same, which had been plugged with soil, wood.
Frame edges of comb.
Propolis being chewed up from hive boxes.

 

[Garry R]

Wrapping fondant with clingfilm to keep it soft works well but the bees will chew it no problem and chuck the bits out of the hive.

 

[Little_bees]

Wrapping fondant with clingfilm to keep it soft works well but the bees will chew it no problem and chuck the bits out of the hive.

I'm sure that clingfilm is as bad for bees as it is for every other animal that encounters it.
Best stick to hard plastic, e.g takeaway tubs.

 

[Murox]

I'm sure that clingfilm is as bad for bees as it is for every other animal that encounters it.
Best stick to hard plastic, e.g takeaway tubs.

I agree with your thinking, however you cannot put much fondant in a takeaway tub.

 

[Little_bees]

I agree with your thinking, however you cannot put much fondant in a takeaway tub.

I've only ever given small top-ups at end of winter and a takeaway tub has been big enough.
For more fondant you'd need a bigger tub!

 

[pargyle]

I agree with your thinking, however you cannot put much fondant in a takeaway tub.

If you cut the hole in the bottom of the takeaway container so the lid is uppermost it is really easy to add more if they need it ... you can get containers that are up to 1 litre in size and a 1 litre tub will hold about 1.2Kg of fondant - which is enough to keep even a large colony going for a couple of weeks if they need it - a lot longer if it is just a top up.

Like these:

Clear Plastic Quality Containers Tubs with Lids Microwave Food Safe Takeaway | eBay

Simply fill the container and close the lid. The snap-close lids help make these containers. These containers are safe for use in microwave, freezer and dishwasher. These are food-safe. Microwave Safe Transparent.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[Murox]

If you cut the hole in the bottom of the takeaway container so the lid is uppermost it is really easy to add more if they need it ... you can get containers that are up to 1 litre in size and a 1 litre tub will hold about 1.2Kg of fondant - which is enough to keep even a large colony going for a couple of weeks if they need it - a lot longer if it is just a top up.

Like these:

Clear Plastic Quality Containers Tubs with Lids Microwave Food Safe Takeaway | eBay

Simply fill the container and close the lid. The snap-close lids help make these containers. These containers are safe for use in microwave, freezer and dishwasher. These are food-safe. Microwave Safe Transparent.

www.ebay.co.uk

Top tip, thanks. We've only got mean takeaway size tubs up here I've never seen a litre sized one before, even ice cream only comes in 500ml max size where I am.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Top tip, thanks. We've only got mean takeaway size tubs up here I've never seen a litre sized one before, even ice cream only comes in 500ml max size where I am.

You have icecream there now! last time I was ashore catering in Campbeltown I asked the lady in the grocer's for an aubergine and almost caused a riot! they were setting up the wicker man outside the library when I went back to the boat