What did you do in the Apiary today?

[Chris Luck]

Interesting Goran but the thing is that they only feed within a maximum radius of about 500 metres from their nest site and the nest sites are very localised and specific so I can't see the problem.

http://wildlifeinfrance.com/bee-eater-merops-apiaster-gu-pier-d-europe-in-france.html

Chris

 

[Hivemaker.]

Especially, when have to get mated queens.. If You mention them how pretty they are, they are getting horns on their heads..

Norton mentioned that they stop queen rearing operations for a couple of weeks in CY, when the bee eaters are passing through.

They have visited this country on a few odd occasions, apparently.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Freezing my butt off at farmers market
Slow today

 

[Chris Luck]

Norton mentioned that they stop queen rearing operations for a couple of weeks in CY, when the bee eaters are passing through.

They have visited this country on a few odd occasions, apparently.

I guess stopping Queen breeding may make sense when they pass through on migration if you were on a "stop over" like Cyprus.

Chris

 

[Bob Bee]

Met a PHd student from the sustainability unit at Exeter university who is going to monitor winter mite drop and treatment on two colonies over the next few months.

and made up some swarm boards for next season from recycled ply.

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

Met a PHd student from the sustainability unit at Exeter university who is going to monitor winter mite drop and treatment on two colonies over the next few months.

Nice sunny spot.

 

[dpearce4]

Went and checked both sites today after the news of Payn3s last week. Was a wonderful site of all the hives flying, driving along the track to one site the ivy looked like there was a colony of bees in it with the amount of bees flying round, I had a good look but there didn't seem to be one.

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

Breathed life onto a pollen forager. I know it's a complete waste of time but I enjoy it and you get a bit of practice picking them up, esp when no longer comatose!

 

[Stuppla1]

Put ratchet straps on as has been very windy otherwise leaving them to it. Bees actually flying today

 

[BILL.HEARD]

Met a PHd student from the sustainability unit at Exeter university who is going to monitor winter mite drop and treatment on two colonies over the next few months.

and made up some swarm boards for next season from recycled ply.

Hi,
Does she need other hives for her study? I'm just down the road at Teignmouth.

Regards,

Bill

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

Bl%dy mites

Girls flying well today on Heat Island, sub-tropical Southern Britain, in 11C. We still have ivy and an ivy-like bushy shrub.

Saw a mortuary bee take out a DWV victim (pictured). It's clear my current generation of brood is heavily violated and I cannot avoid a brood cull and OA. I'm terrified with all the possibilities of harming the Q, but I think it is unavoidable.

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

Ivy and ivy-like bush

Ivy and ivy-like bush. Would love a name for the bush. Good forage for a lot of insects in late November.

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

Ivy and ivy-like bush

Dupe

 

[victor meldrew]

Ivy and ivy-like bush. Would love a name for the bush. Good forage for a lot of insects in late November.

Looks like fascia or castor oil plant?
VM


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[REDWOOD]

Parthenocissus tricuspidata

 

[Jimmys Mum]

I think it looks a bit like Fatshedera Lizei, which is a cross between an Ivy and a Fatsia.

 

[Goran]

Today sanking in the snow at the Apiary.
Sunny, no wind, temp around 6 ( but cause of sun seems warmer). Few bees going out ( toilet call I presume).
Saw few wasps going to the hives. How they cope with freezing nights in snow? Must be I am missing something..

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

I think it looks a bit like Fatshedera Lizei, which is a cross between an Ivy and a Fatsia.

Thanks, Redwood, but I think Jimmy's Mum has it. Good plant. And what a year for the ivy!

 

[Erichalfbee]

Saw few wasps going to the hives. How they cope with freezing nights in snow? Must be I am missing something..

I think the UK and Croatia must be growing some sort of freeze resistant super wasp!
We had -4 a few nights ago and I'm still seeing the odd wasp

 

[itma]

...
Saw few wasps going to the hives. How they cope with freezing nights in snow? Must be I am missing something..

Maybe the wasps' nest is in a nice warm house's roof?