What did you do in the Apiary today?

[Niv]

Made some eke's
Treatments on
Fed some - mainly to help draw out some foundation in the brood box
Spent a fortune at Thorne's

 

[Newbeeneil]

And then I'm extracting Heather

Lucky Heather!

 

[BigAshW]

Started work on storing kit. Frames in the freezer. Boxes in to paint. Scorch out and then will be wrapped and stacked for the winter.

 

[Patrick1]

I found my first mouse this season in a hive today, nest well underway

 

[Michael ECB's]

I found my first mouse this season in a hive today, nest well underway

Please excuse my ignorance, I have read in the past about grids or entrance reducers to keep mice out of hives. But just cant get my mind around this "mouse thing" , what kind of mice do you guys have in the UK????
How can a mouse climb into a bee hive and not get destroyed immediately ?
I do understand that the European Bees are a bit more docile but really....
is there something I'm missing, some sort of symbiotic relationship?

 

[Erichalfbee]

Please excuse my ignorance, I have read in the past about grids or entrance reducers to keep mice out of hives. But just cant get my mind around this "mouse thing" , what kind of mice do you guys have in the UK????
How can a mouse climb into a bee hive and not get destroyed immediately ?
I do understand that the European Bees are a bit more docile but really....
is there something I'm missing, some sort of symbiotic relationship?

Field mouse
They creep in when the bees are in cluster.

 

[Michael ECB's]

Field mouse
They creep in when the bees are in cluster.

So sneaky but very brave.... no predators ? Out of interest, do these mice cause havoc inside, damage to comb, honey or brood?

 

[Erichalfbee]

So sneaky but very brave.... no predators ? Out of interest, do these mice cause havoc inside, damage to comb, honey or brood?

Yes. They trash combs where they nest build. Predators? Yes. Foxes owls mustelids.

 

[Michael ECB's]

Yes. They trash combs where they nest build. Predators? Yes. Foxes owls mustelids.

Thanks for reply,,, Ill just chalk this one up to another one of natures mysteries, why would bees tolerate this?
Nature will keep us guessing..... I guess..

 

[Speybee]

So sneaky but very brave.... no predators ? Out of interest, do these mice cause havoc inside, damage to comb, honey or brood?

This is a predator who so far has dispatched 9 of them since May

 

[Speybee]

Yes. They trash combs where they nest build. Predators? Yes. Foxes owls mustelids.

And the new head of my “Mouse Department” is a predator too.

 

[Speybee]

I found my first mouse this season in a hive today, nest well underway

My cat was installed in May and she has been in the job (after my shock discovery of an entire box of frames being nibbled by Mr Gourmet mouse) and dispatched 9 rodents.
I would not be without my cat now

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Ill just chalk this one up to another one of natures mysteries, why would bees tolerate this?

They usually sneak in when the bees are in the winter cluster - half asleep

 

[RichardBeeW]

Ok, I'm seeing a lot of bees coming in to my hives with this white (I'm colour-blind so I think it's white) on their thorax. I'm guessing it's just pollen but it's very pronounced even when they don't appear to be carrying pollen on their legs. There are three bees (with maybe a smattering on a fourth) in the left of the photo showing it while the one with orange / yellow? pollen just entering the hive didn't show anything on her thorax at all. It's my first year back to beekeeping after 30 years away due to ill health so I've pretty much forgotten everything I learned all that time ago. It's soooo good to be back though.

 

[Swarm]

Himalayan Balsam.

 

[Michael ECB's]

They usually sneak in when the bees are in the winter cluster - half asleep

I reckon if I catch a mouse in one of my hives that survives the ordeal... Im going to build him a house of his own and feed him every day... I may even call him Sir !

 

[Michael ECB's]

This is a predator who so far has dispatched 9 of them since May

I suppose we are fortunate in a way, loads of predators during the day and night.

 

[RichardBeeW]

Himalayan Balsam.

Hi Swarm, was your post ‘Himalayan Balsam‘ in answer to my query re the potential pollen marks showing on the backs of many of my bees?

 

[Swarm]

Yes, it's the typical Balsam stamp.

 

[Newbeeneil]

Went through my main apiary changing the Apigard. All ten hives are bursting with bees, getting heavy with stores and bringing in pollen. Much busier than they were when the supers were on!