What did you do in the Apiary today?

[jenkinsbrynmair]

She really should look to her personal hygiene

 

[Jimmys Mum]

Shook out a hive with laying workers

 

[nantmoel]

I was lucky enough to visit the 'Bee Yard' of 'TremyFro' today for chat and a viewing of her treating the bee's to their third treatment of vaporising with oxalis acid. Seen one of her 'BeeHaus' together with the 'Darlington'. Such a welcome and a loverly cup of tea.

 

[Erichalfbee]

More syrup in feeders.
Still waiting for Ivy......
Fourth oxalic vape being done tomorrow.

 

[Tremyfro]

It was good to meet you....and hear about your exploits...ha ha....
Your wasp catching technique is fab...and as you say very satisfying!!...OH has made a pipe for the entrance of the nuc that the wasps were attacking ...I hope it gives them a chance tomorrow...otherwise I will have to move them....the wasps are really bad.

 

[B+.]

...the wasps are really bad.

I have just the solution for you .... http://bussongs.com/songs/there-was-an-old-lady-who-swallowed-a-fly.php

 

[Tremyfro]

B+ ...you slay me....chuckle ...chuckle.
Should be...
There was an old man who swatted a wasp
I don't know why ....he swatted a wasp
He swatted the wasp to save the hive
That hive was alive....
I don't want it to die....

 

[B+.]

B+ ...you slay me....chuckle ...chuckle.
Should be...
There was an old man who swatted a wasp
I don't know why ....he swatted a wasp
He swatted the wasp to save the hive
That hive was alive....
I don't want it to die....

Yeah, but I can't sing so I had to make do with one that was already there

 

[nantmoel]

I was lucky enough to visit the 'Bee Yard' of 'TremyFro' today for chat and a viewing of her treating the bee's to their third treatment of vaporising with oxalis acid. Seen one of her 'BeeHaus' together with the 'Darlington'. Such a welcome and a loverly cup of tea.

OH half seems to do all the hard work there! You can forgive hive for the 'Battery Charger' if it was him!

 

[Goran]

Today opened one hive, no open or sealed brood - queen present.. She stopped to lay in August ( end of it). Earlier before happened and no problem in spring. They are already in winter mode.. The rest also rapidly decreased brooding. Rarelly can find more than 2 " frames" of open brood below heavy honey arches..

 

[B+.]

They are already in winter mode.. The rest also rapidly decreased brooding. Rarelly can find more than 2 " frames" of open brood below heavy honey arches..

How long before you expect winter to hit?

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

Equinox, and not a drone in sight. Some colonies hefting very light and with completely empty lower boxes; need to keep a close eye but may provide a good opportunity to swap out comb.

A good weekend for autumn work though. Something very odd going on in colony 1 (my retired first queen). Had taken the dispassionate decision that it was time to merge but I COULD NOT find her. Always elusive but evaded even a couple of sievings and it's only a nuc. Eggs present and a well-hidden QC that I am not 100 pct sure I can account for from the June A/S. All very odd but she gets a stay of execution while I wait a week so see if I have in fact killed her inadvertently.

 

[Goran]

How long before you expect winter to hit?

Before when seasons were predictable frosts were starting in September. Now I don't expect before October. Snow, before some in October, now I expect in November first snow. But overall it is hard to predict as climate gone to hell..

Here bees ( our Carnies) mainly stop with brood in September, some on small scale at beginning of October ( frame or two). So from October, November, December is said they spend 0,8-1kg of stores ( each month). In January about 1,2-1,5kg. Then in February consumption goes steady up - and when is all right and goes as it should be for our black locust -

Forgot, one season I had one colony which gone hard with brood in October with I think 4 frames full of brood if I recall right. Accidentally I looked in October inside due to spotted increased activity. Before that I knew it had plenty of stores. After that I had to add some ( luckily available) spare frames with stores. In spring queen got detroned.. I assume got some cross with illegaly imported italian queens. ( It was queen bought from " official selection" - but deselected at my apiary..).

 

[B+.]

But overall it is hard to predict as climate gone to hell...

I envy you the Robinia (black locust) flow....maybe I'll sow a few seeds here and there

 

[Goran]

I envy you the Robinia (black locust) flow....maybe I'll sow a few seeds here and there

The next season I doubt will be good for black locust/ robinia due to this year catastrophic droughts, won't form many flower buds for next season or will be smaller flowers..

But when is all right in robinia flow, awesome happening - not just financial, more is soul food.. I witnessed twice part of such happening and memories are still fresh.

 

[Cazza]

Returned home ill after a week away, staggered up the garden to check on the bees, all 6 colonies looking good. Cheered up after catching up on the forum posts-thanks all.
Now off for a little sleep.
Cazza

 

[Erichalfbee]

Checked inspection trays under three colonies post oxalic.
One still dropping a lot but it's the fourth treatment so that's it!

 

[B+.]

Returned home ill after a week away

I hope you're feeling better when you wake up

 

[nantmoel]

Just made two wooden Nuc's up in case I need to reduce two colonies into them from full hive for the winter, our 'Poly Nuc's' are being used.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Don't forget your PIR jackets for them