What did you do in the Apiary today?

[Erichalfbee]

Four rounds of oxalic vaping may do a fifth?

Same here. Two colonies possibly

 

[Curly green finger's]

Moving mini nucs and nucs to there wintering sites some are now under a Dutch barn .

I didn’t think the mini nuc in the photo was going to make it considering she emerged on the 1st of august, they surprise me very often .

 

[enrico]

2nd round of vaping, went better by drilling a hole in the floor above the mesh. Getting used to the instant vap but still need to be a bit more organised. Wasps suddenly in quantity around the hives so fitted my wasp guards to entrances. Left a single bee space opposite entrance but will slide the entrance sideways once they are used to them.
Worst year for wasps for years. Will make more of an effort to catch the queen's next spring

 

[enrico]

A moment of ‘Zen’ in my other out apiary after the sept flow of balsam. This apiary has v little varroa, v calm bees, loads of stores, with young queens doing well, capped brood, ready for winter

Wow.....those are such lovely photos, you win the award of the year for the best behaved hives

 

[The Poot]

Wow.....those are such lovely photos, you win the award of the year for the best behaved hives

My hives have been very well behaved this year, shame about the bees in them though…

 

[Curly green finger's]

Second and third round of vapes almost done !
Cutting up 40 227g trays of heather honey cut -comb this afternoon and jarring/labelling 3lb jars of lime honey .
Observation hive almost ready for the weekend.

 

[Nannysbees]

Same here. Two colonies possibly

5th vape one colony over 400, do I keep on vaping?

 

[Curly green finger's]

5th vape one colony over 400, do I keep on vaping?

How much oxalic are you using ?and have your vapes been consistent - if for any reason the first attempt doesn’t work properly I will vape them again .

 

[Curly green finger's]

Moved !

 

[Do224]

How much oxalic are you using ?

Does more OA mean a higher drop?

 

[Newbeeneil]

Did the second round of OA to my overwintering nucs today using my sublimox and small generator. I like the idea of the instantvap. Has anyone had experience of both to compare?

 

[Erichalfbee]

Does more OA mean a higher drop?

No provided you are doing the correct amount to start with.

 

[Erichalfbee]

5th vape one colony over 400, do I keep on vaping?

Is that the overnight drop?

 

[Curly green finger's]

Does more OA mean a higher drop?

No but if the vaping doesn’t go well it’s worth doing again

 

[Erichalfbee]

No but if the vaping doesn’t go well it’s worth doing again

How do you know it hasn't gone well?

 

[Do224]

How do you know it hasn't gone well?

I guess if you forget to block the mesh floor and the OA all escapes… or if the blow torch temp is too low and the OA doesn’t vaporise properly…

 

[Moobee]

Took off the Apiguard empty trays & ekes today and nadired 3 hives with nice heavy supers. Two hives were incredibly light so have a full feeder of 2:1
Bees a bit stroppy but loads of wasps around. The traps were chocka so refilled all of those. Checked the AH traps - nothing (phew!)
The UFEs are working well to keep them out and the lone hive with just a DIY cable trunking wasp guard seems to be ok.
A few drones still being chucked out.

 

[Curly green finger's]

I guess if you forget to block the mesh floor and the OA all escapes… or if the blow torch temp is too low and the OA doesn’t vaporise properly…

It happens

 

[Wilco]

Checked two sites, most all now have apivar in. Couple without I need to nadir shallows next time round as was in a rush today, giving up on the ivy.

Yesterday had a researcher round recording bees which was interesting.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I guess if you forget to block the mesh floor and the OA all escapes

it doesn't make much difference, especially if you vape above the OMF, most of the sublimate rises to the crownboard, desublimates and settles all over the bees before starting to escape from the bottom - that's how OA works