- Joined
- Oct 19, 2009
- Messages
- 1,479
- Reaction score
- 302
- Location
- Newport, South Wales
- Hive Type
- National
- Number of Hives
- >6
I have a queenless colony but fortunately I also have a mated queen in an Apidea mini nuc.
I have attempted to unite the mini colony with the queenless lot using the newspaper method. I put a sheet of newspaper over the brood box, pierced it a few times then placed the mini nuc (less floor) on the newspaper. I then put a brood box on (to surround the mini nuc) and a roof.
Two days later I have just had a quick look but the newspaper is still intact. The bees in the mini nuc have been busy though; they have extended the comb from the mini frames about an inch further down.
Can I do anything to persuade them to chew through the paper? I think if I spray it with thin syrup it will just be a papier mache mess in no time.
Thanks
I have attempted to unite the mini colony with the queenless lot using the newspaper method. I put a sheet of newspaper over the brood box, pierced it a few times then placed the mini nuc (less floor) on the newspaper. I then put a brood box on (to surround the mini nuc) and a roof.
Two days later I have just had a quick look but the newspaper is still intact. The bees in the mini nuc have been busy though; they have extended the comb from the mini frames about an inch further down.
Can I do anything to persuade them to chew through the paper? I think if I spray it with thin syrup it will just be a papier mache mess in no time.
Thanks