Wasp Takeover!!!!

[MartinL]

Help!

Moved a 5 frame nuc into a full sized brood-box, (which I had painted a nice yellow, to differentiate from others and keep my wife happy) last week.
.
Looked in yesterday and there was a carpet of dead wasps outside the entrance. More wasps seemed to have free access and were just going in and out as they pleased.
The entrance is only two 6mm holes in the entrance block but the small colony seems unable to defend it. Sat for ages squashing the little buggers as they emerged. This morning again loads of em!
Mover the hive 2m and put wasp traps in its place. I've blocked up the entrance completely, after sitting for an hour and a half picking off the raiders as they emerged whilst more arrived to be squashed.

Three other hives 30m away are coping fine with just a reduced entrance.
Is this something to do with the colour of the hive, or its position on top of a flat roof?

 

[greatbritishhoney]

Wasps will go for an easy target - if the nuc can't defend itself they'll keep robbing until there's nothing left.

Do you have an alternative apiary site that you could move it to for a few weeks?

 

[oliver90owner]

I would not think it any more or less than a weak colony.

Use any method to help the bees defend but also get some more bees in there from your other hives, if that is possible. Extra bees, a frame of emerging brood. Otherwise you are going to have a continuing problem for some weeks unless the colony collapses before that.

RAB

 

[RosieMc]

Ditto

Wasps invading an apidea yesterday evening, hence too few bees to defend. I've just put 3 wasp traps around it. I've not looked this morning as I guess the few bees that are left in there will be traumatised. Pesky little blighters

 

[Midland Beek]

I've blocked up the entrance completely, ?

Do that and I would give a 1:1 feed of syrup. Hot weather means your bees might need some water. But it was right to block up completely if your colony was overrun.

 

[MartinL]

Thanks, I put feeder on with just water when I blocked the entrance.
Made up some weak feed (1:1) soon after and plan to put it in a fresh feeder after dark tonight!
Hopefully wasps sleep!

 

[Dishmop]

Waps and other little bugs are also quite fond of yellow.

 

[MartinL]

Waps and other little bugs are also quite fond of yellow.

Yes, that was my main concern.

Haven't opened the brood since for fear of attracting more wasps but need to look inside A.S.A.P. They were feeding when invited up with a piece of syrup soaked straw but I 'm worried that smoking the hive will only cause more stress.

I've wedged match sticks to give a vent between the solid floor and broodbox, put a sheet of Celotex on the roof for shade and now thinking of moving hive to a wood down the road. Will be away from wasps and I don't think any flying bees remain so none to return anyway!

They are surviving but I might transfer into a plain cedar box before moving.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Am sorry if this is a really dumb question but do wasps rob hives that are getting thymol treatment?

 

[rae]

We have had exactly the same problem with two nucs that were made up to accommodate some bought in queens. They weren't exactly weak nucs: two full frames of 14x12 brood about to emerge, with associated bees. They have been pounded by wasps and robbers from the other hives. The only solution was to close them up and move them 35 miles to a site slap in the centre of London! Amusingly, when they were opened up after the move, all of the robbers piled out, had a bit of a "WTF" moment, and decided quite quickly to join the hives they had been robbing.

They are getting the odd wasp now, but they are defending well, and seem to be doing nicely.

 

[Norvic_chris]

By coincidence, on Friday evening I also set up 2 queenless nucs (3 frames emerging brood, 2 food, most flying bees returned home!) to introduce new queens (on Sunday) to aggressive colonies. Both severely attacked by wasps, so I sealed them and laid wasp traps, thinking better to hope they survive ‘safe indoors’ rather than all killed anyway by wasps. I’ve recombined one with its original queenless hive (through newspaper) after just 2.5 days after putting the new queen in (risky I realise but desperate times…) but the other one is still sealed after 2 full days.

QUESTION: how long is it safe to leave the nuc sealed up like this? (I tried reopening for an hour today – now more robbers from other hives than wasps, so don’t really want to leave open and exposed but aware won’t be good for the inhabitants!)

 

[MartinL]

Free at last!

but desperate times…) but the other one is still sealed after 2 full days.

QUESTION: how long is it safe to leave the nuc sealed up like this? (I tried reopening for an hour today – now more robbers from other hives than wasps, so don’t really want to leave open and exposed but aware won’t be good for the inhabitants!)

Don't know, . . . . . . . . .
Wasp traps are rammed, added a spot of washingup liquid (suggested by Winker) it really works, helps them drown quickly by breaking the surface tension, wow!
Unblocked them late yesterday, left only 1 X 6mm hole. Just checked and they are defending it fine + others returning laden with pollen.

Don't think I'll put the landing board back though!

They've been banged up with just the feeder to work on for 7-8 days and seem to be surprisingly better for it!.