Wasps 4:30am

stormpsy · Jul 15, 2017

the other morning I went to close up 3 hives to move them and when I closed 1 hive 2 wasps tried to investigate the entrance.... shame as it was closed lol

MartinL · Jul 15, 2017

It's Mid July!

Time to be taking precautions against Jaspers. :gnorsi:

Codford · Jul 16, 2017

Inspected both hives this afternoon. On the first one a wasp appeared and landed on the crown board right next to the feeder/clearing hole - duly dispatched with trusty hive tool. On the second one, no sooner had I removed the crown board that another appeared, landed on a top bar and, in the blink of an eye, disappeared down into the hive - before I could administer the necessary remedy. Our "friends" appear to be early this year in S. Wilts...

Anyway, Waspbane deployed (first use, will be interesting to see how it gets on).

Teemore · Jul 17, 2017

Starting to see the odd wasp scouting around hives. Since starting beekeeping in 2010, I have only ever seen a few wasps in and around my apiaries but on Saturday just past, wasps were present in three of my apiaries. I did see a few wasps being mobbed by bees when they made the mistake of diving into open brood boxes during inspections. When i have seen them in the past, whether in my apiaries or those of other beekeepers, it has generally been much later in the Summer.

peteinwilts · Jul 17, 2017

Seems to be a good year for them. I have had some of the stripy jumpered little devils hanging around the NUC's for the last week or so.

They are now massing in numbers. This weekend I pull up in the honey scented truck and I am being mugged as soon as I open the door.
My NUC's are too strong for them, but there are still chancers.

I don't keep bees at home, but they know where I live. I get bombarded as soon as I open the front door.

I now have the delema of having a good number of hives that need harvesting, but am dreading their welcoming party....

I was thinking about early morning harvests, but they are up earlier than I am. I am going to dust off my old clearer boards and try night time harvesting... wasps are probably my least favorite aspect of beekeeping.