problems with wasps

[Shabro]

Hi this is my first post, I'm a new beek and have two hives. at the moment one is is very weak where the other is very strong.
The weak hive is where the problem is, when opening up to replenish the feeder this afternoon I noticed that the hive seems to be over run with wasps... the feeder was full of them and when I looked into the super the wasps seemed to be coming and going freely. I've closed the entrance down so that it is one bee wide, I cant think what else to do as there seems to be hundreds of the buggers. In total contrast the other hive doesnt seem to be getting touched, any advice would be great as I am seriously worried.

 

[region2]

It's getting robbed - there's lots of ideas on these forums for getting rid of wasps. Have you set up a wasp trap?

R2

 

[susbees]

Welcome to the forum.

Can you define "very strong", as in how many frames of brood...we need to know whether to suggest equalizing the hives - new beekeepers often overestimate the strength of their hives.

When a weak hive gets like that drastic methods are called for: can you move the hive more than three miles away? If not block the hive entrance with grass and give them a break (after the wasps have gone home for the night. Set up a couple of bottle traps...bit of jam, vinegar, dash of vinegar.

Wondering why have they got a super on - they need minimum space to defend.

 

[Shabro]

the strong hive is a brood and a half , we were advised to do this by a local beek as we were told the hive wasnt big enough for the colony. we have around 15 wasp traps out at the minute and they seem to get full rather quickly, maybe its not helped that there are so many fruit trees in the vicinity? at the moment we havent got the option of moving the hives.
they both have supers on as we were advised to keep them on to give the bees food.
when we got the hives in may they hadnt been opened in two years, so we have had our hands full trying to bring them up to a good state of cleanliness and health. the weaker hive was coming along nicely until the wasps.....

 

[Midland Beek]

If wasps have overrun a colony then it is probably too late for it. Put a weak feed of syrup on, bump the hive to get the wasps out, and close up for a few days. The feed needs to be weak so as to supply water.

 

[enrico]

also reduce the entrance to the tiniest possible hole for a bee to get through.
E

 

[Andre cardona]

iv lost a colany in the last week to wasp thay wer about 7 frames strong and wer getting on well wen i went back on sunday a sad site i united them and are now aball to defend went back to have a look today much better im going to keep a eye on them if threes still a prob at i plain to move hives

 

[rae]

One trick that can be done immediately on a reasonably strong hive.

If you have a hive that is fundamentally OK, you've put the entrance block in, but it is still unable to stop wasps, stuff a load of grass into one side of the entrance, with the ends of the grass flapping about over the clear side of the entrance. This slows the bees down, so there is always a small queue outside. When the wasps arrive, there are enough bees "out the front" to see them off. The obstacle course of the bits of grass flapping about in the breeze doesn't seem to bother the bees, but it does confuse the wasps. We had two hives under heavy attack and this has pretty much stopped it.

 

[Andre cardona]

One trick that can be done immediately on a reasonably strong hive.

If you have a hive that is fundamentally OK, you've put the entrance block in, but it is still unable to stop wasps, stuff a load of grass into one side of the entrance, with the ends of the grass flapping about over the clear side of the entrance. This slows the bees down, so there is always a small queue outside. When the wasps arrive, there are enough bees "out the front" to see them off. The obstacle course of the bits of grass flapping about in the breeze doesn't seem to bother the bees, but it does confuse the wasps. We had two hives under heavy attack and this has pretty much stopped it.

thanks i will have a go

 

[MartinL]

One trick that can be done immediately on a reasonably strong hive.

The obstacle course of the bits of grass flapping about in the breeze doesn't seem to bother the bees, but it does confuse the wasps. We had two hives under heavy attack and this has pretty much stopped it.

Combined two weak colonies this weekend and still being over-run!
Will try that.
Moved the hive and sprayed the closed entrance with Lynx deodorant,
result wasps are confused for the moment.

 

[gingerbees]

Moved the hive and sprayed the closed entrance with Lynx deodorant.

Which begs the question....... Are your hives now surrounded by gorgeous girls - Lynx effect!!!!!

 

[Monsieur Abeille]

Very clever device by victor meldrew in this thread http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6773 - or lean a pane of glass across the hive entrance - clever bees can get in, silly wasps cant figure it out

For effective killing you cant do better than a board baited with jam and smeared with rat glue, though as pointed out elsewhere these traps need to be in a place where birds are unlikely to wander

 

[Shabro]

Ive closed the hive down, left them with a full feeder of weak syrup and put about 8 wasp traps down, there were 6 down from last week and I have never seen so many wasps in them in the space of one week. We've been looking for nests but cant seem to find any.... hopefully after a few days the hive may of had a bit of respite and the wasps will maybe move on? I will also try thr pane of glass method also.

 

[Shabro]

unfortunately today we have been into the weak hive and there are virtually no bees left , so we have decided to call it a day on that one.