Wasps and Dark Bees

[Finman]

Do you have any idea of the specific type of Phacelia as i have googled it and there's none of what i have seen on google anywhere near the hive..

Bees fly 2-3 km for phacelia.
P. tanacetifolia is widely cultivated for bees and for green manure.

 

[Millet]

Bees fly 2-3 km for phacelia.
P. tanacetifolia is widely cultivated for bees and for green manure.

I know you are a very clever person and will no doubt know more about bee keeping than i ever will.. BUT why would a bee fly 2/3km away for forage when the forage is on there door step not further than 300yrd's circumference around the hive..

 

[Swarm]

The bees will fly to the best source, my own are ignoring a ready supply of Balsam within 150 yards preferring Willowherb instead, which is why I maintain that's the source for your bees. It would also be a little late for Phacelia.

 

[Millet]

I'll blame Willowherb all day for this little mystery as it's every where pretty close..
The land around is a Grey Partridge conservation area so every field has a 3mtr band of untouched boarder .. they is a blue flower in the area about 5ft tall but i have not seen a single bumble bee/ beetle or honey bee anywhere near it.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Well according to the pollen charts and my observations of my bees foraging RBWH the pollen is more green in colour. The only lighter blue pollen featured is phaecilia, but I agree it's more of a spring flower

 

[Swarm]

I may have the same chart, I don't think its depiction of Balsam is too accurate either.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I may have the same chart, I don't think its depiction of Balsam is too accurate either.

Mine is the William Kirk publication

 

[Millet]

Well according to the pollen charts and my observations of my bees foraging RBWH the pollen is more green in colour. The only lighter blue pollen featured is phaecilia, but I agree it's more of a spring flower

Do you mean.. Rose Bay Willow Herb.. i may be lazy when writing.. but i'll be fooked if i get that lazy to write rbwh .. lol

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

sorry - R'B'W'H' that better?

 

[Millet]

Hive entrance reduced today.. 3 wasp's killed in the space of 5 minute's while doing it.. both of my lager trap's with 1litre of larger in are also full of wasp's i can't wait for this Waspbane contraption.. i may consider moving the hive 3ft and put several trap's where the hive was and the Waspbane level and in front of the entrance..

 

[Swarm]

Mine is the William Kirk publication

Different one, mine's by his brother James. T.

 

[user 6228]

long narrow entrance

a tunnel gives lots of bees the chance to defend

here is an improvised one on a paynes poly this gives a 75mm long tunnel.
the wasps attacking this colony gave up or died.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Now that looks a neat and simple solution !

 

[Millet]

a tunnel gives lots of bees the chance to defend

here is an improvised one on a paynes poly this gives a 75mm long tunnel.
the wasps attacking this colony gave up or died.

Brilliant i will try anything at the moment.. i was not worried about anything over the past 2mth's but i must say i'm worried about the amount of wasp's....and such a simple solution look's good i will give very similar a try..thankyou very much..

 

[MartinL]

sorry - R'B'W'H' that better?

Isn't Willow-herb one word?

Wouldn't that make it R B W-h. ??

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Isn't Willow-herb one word?

Wouldn't that make it R B W-h. ??

not with an apostrophe - grocer's' or otherwise