What did you do in the Apiary today?

[bpmurray]

Went back up for a closer examination. There was one bee surrounded by a bunch of her sisters who were having a serious talk with her. Suddenly one of the bees grabbed this bee's front leg and flew off with her - presumably some kind of hygienic approach to whatever ails them. I thought of CPBV uty the bees aren't shiny, just shivering, and there were very few of them - four that I saw. I opened the hive and everything seemed normal (I even saw a waggle dance, a first for me). And while there seem to be more sentries than normal, everything else is going OK, with plenty of ivy pollen coming in.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I thought of CPBV uty the bees aren't shiny, just shivering,

There are two types of symptoms - shiny bees or shivering bees

 

[Millet]

Should you not just leave the supers on anyhow now you have gassed them ?

Not really apparently is does no harm to the honey stores, regardless of that the honey is for home use anyway if there is any spare.

 

[nantmoel]

Looked in a few supers that got clearer boards on, wow what a wonderful sight, the whitest capped frames I have ever seen. I wonder how much of it is heather.

 

[beeno]

Took MAQS treatment off one hive. Queen seen, 3 frames of eggs and approx. 1,000 drop.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Last vape done tonight. All looking good. Little varroa.

 

[Plenty of honey]

Moved 25 Nucs this evening to a better overwintering place, with more ivy and general protection. Ivy just starting, thankfully some rain and dry forecast next week. Onwards and upwards!!!

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Last vape done tonight. All looking good. Little varroa.

Any big ones?

 

[Millet]

Last vape done tonight. All looking good. Little varroa.

Done my first blast yesterday and today the tray was covered, well over 100 but i could not be arsed to individually count each one, i would say though they was 185 and one with its head missing.

 

[Heather]

Collected and hived a swarm What is in the bee-keeping rhyme for September!!
It was 10 miles away, in a low tree and on 3 comb... couldn't leave it to struggle all winter, so now have nice bees in a Nuc , covering 3 frames and tucking in to 2:1... Challenge, get through to Spring.
Note to self... Turn the phone OFF.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

put clearer boards on two apiaries - bees are still piling in balsam nectar like nobody's business - but you have to draw the line at some point.

 

[Heather]

Wow, most around here have taken all honey off already, and having to feed as hives very light. On the ivy and balsam. But not frantically.
I have only 1/3 of last years honey harvest, due to rubbish April/May.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Wow, most around here have taken all honey off already, and having to feed as hives very light.

Most of the honey has come in the last month ir so (heather and balsam) I thought it had slowed right down now but a substantial amount has come in over the last week and I had to add supers to some colonies ten days or so ago.

 

[Heather]

Ha, think the only Heather around here is me!...lots of Commons, but mostly bracken. Farmland with v few useful crops for me.

 

[Brigsy]

Lots of ghost bees this week.

 

[madasafish]

Been feeding all hives. Despite balsam signs - and lots of balsam - I suspect not much nectar as most hives appear quite dry of uncapped nectar..

I suspect we may see large winter losses if winter is cold.. many hives may be underweight.

 

[nantmoel]

put clearer boards on two apiaries - bees are still piling in balsam nectar like nobody's business - but you have to draw the line at some point.

Totally agree with you, at least you'll have to feed them less with the amount they are still bringing in. I removed three super yesterday that I put clearer boards on earlier in the week, they still have a super on three of the four hives I have here in the garden loaded with honey. I may just pop it under the brood box.

 

[Tremyfro]

We finally had time in the Bee Yard today...a glorious sunny day.
We topped up the feeders in the 2 nucs and the new colony in a Polyhive.
Checked one nuc to see if the queen had started to lay...yep....large patches of capped brood.
Did a final check on the langstroth hive as no inspection for ages as we didn't want to disturb them in their honey making! However, now the Flow frames have been drained off....we moved it above the cover board to allow the bees to migrate down into the brood box with any nectar they want to take with them...we will remove it next week.....a very quick inspection to make sure they are queen right and to check stores. Glad to see lots of capped honey around the brood.
Wasps about but the bees seem to holding them off.
Then we vaped all of the hives. They were not amused!

 

[coatesg]

Oxalic vapourization on all hives today.

Bees are whacking in the ivy pollen at the moment - one hive had literally a pile of it in the inspection tray when I cleaned those out.

 

[Swarm]

Put clearer boards on, the bees were all little angels. No Balsam flow here and judging by things today, nothing special about this years harvest.