What did you do in the Apiary today?

[Penninetrader]

Interesting as I bought in 3 queens earlier in the season and I can’t say i am over impressed with them. My homies are much gentler and calmer and just as productive.

My girls like yours are remarkably tolerant. It has always been a worry that any incomers could bring with them problems. Even a swarm that arrived in the rain on my gazebo roof has the same traits even though they are clearly a different strain of bee. I am starting to think local drones play an important factor beyond the obvious. Bringing in virgins will test my theory.

 

[The Poot]

Hive 7 chucking the last of the drones out...
View attachment 41380

It’s really quite sad isn’t it? Poor old things!

 

[boywonder]

My girls like yours are remarkably tolerant. It has always been a worry that any incomers could bring with them problems. Even a swarm that arrived in the rain on my gazebo roof has the same traits even though they are clearly a different strain of bee. I am starting to think local drones play an important factor beyond the obvious. Bringing in virgins will test my theory.

Except for the fact that, by introducing your 'foreign' VQs you'll effectively be helping to dilute the characteristics of the local drone pool, given that the male progeny of those VQs will comprise solely imported genetic material.

Double edged sword, I guess. Over the years, I have had many goes at bringing different strains into my apiary, to try and 'improve genetic diversity' and promote 'hybrid vigour'.

Experience has led me to conclude that's just a total waste of time and money for a hobbyist like me. Bee characteristics were patchy.

Now I just keep 'local' bees, and all is good and stable.

Given the length of time bees have thrived on these isles, nearby DCAs must already be serving up sufficient diversity (plus, locally adapted genetics).

Unless you're in the business of attaining the 'perfect bee' or chasing huge honey yields, I now don't see the point. In fact, my two best honey harvests have come since I stopped t*tiing around with buying in Q's, but have instead focused on the health of the bees I have.

Good luck with your trials! I'll be keeping an eye out for the results of your local matings of those brought-in Queens.

 

[Antipodes]

Inspected a split today and found what is obviously a "King" cell.

 

[Moobee]

Inspected a split today and found what is obviously a "King" cell.

I can’t unsee that!

 

[Moobee]

Except for the fact that, by introducing your 'foreign' VQs you'll effectively be helping to dilute the characteristics of the local drone pool, given that the male progeny of those VQs will comprise solely imported genetic material.

Double edged sword, I guess. Over the years, I have had many goes at bringing different strains into my apiary, to try and 'improve genetic diversity' and promote 'hybrid vigour'.

Experience has led me to conclude that's just a total waste of time and money for a hobbyist like me. Bee characteristics were patchy.

Now I just keep 'local' bees, and all is good and stable.

Given the length of time bees have thrived on these isles, nearby DCAs must already be serving up sufficient diversity (plus, locally adapted genetics).

Unless you're in the business of attaining the 'perfect bee' or chasing huge honey yields, I now don't see the point. In fact, my two best honey harvests have come since I stopped t*tiing around with buying in Q's, but have instead focused on the health of the bees I have.

Good luck with your trials! I'll be keeping an eye out for the results of your local matings of those brought-in Queens.

I agree. I only bought some in spring as I lost several colonies over winter and needed to build up quickly without the expense of buying several nucs. The only exception was a queen from Paynes (Roger and Becky now trading as R & R Bee Company doing nucs and queens only) - that queen is great and has also produced some lovely daughters - but these are bred in Sussex so kind of local for me.

 

[Newbeeneil]

I agree. I only bought some in spring as I lost several colonies over winter and needed to build up quickly without the expense of buying several nucs. The only exception was a queen from Paynes (Roger and Becky now trading as R & R Bee Company doing nucs and queens only) - that queen is great and has also produced some lovely daughters - but these are bred in Sussex so kind of local for me.

You should have bought one of my nice cheap nucs at the auction.

 

[Parsonage Bees]

Hive 7 chucking the last of the drones out...
View attachment 41380

Looks like a Norwegian Blue.
It has expired. It has ceased to bee.

#edit - sorry I'll go and do some beekeeping

 

[Penninetrader]

Except for the fact that, by introducing your 'foreign' VQs you'll effectively be helping to dilute the characteristics of the local drone pool, given that the male progeny of those VQs will comprise solely imported genetic material.

Double edged sword, I guess. Over the years, I have had many goes at bringing different strains into my apiary, to try and 'improve genetic diversity' and promote 'hybrid vigour'.

Experience has led me to conclude that's just a total waste of time and money for a hobbyist like me. Bee characteristics were patchy.

Now I just keep 'local' bees, and all is good and stable.

Given the length of time bees have thrived on these isles, nearby DCAs must already be serving up sufficient diversity (plus, locally adapted genetics).

Unless you're in the business of attaining the 'perfect bee' or chasing huge honey yields, I now don't see the point. In fact, my two best honey harvests have come since I stopped t*tiing around with buying in Q's, but have instead focused on the health of the bees I have.

Good luck with your trials! I'll be keeping an eye out for the results of your local matings of those brought-in Queens.

I completely agree with much of that. The caveat being that much of the introduction is being carried out by those who surround us and commercial beeks in particular making them the major determinants of the gene pool when their intended queens supercede My only imports, when I say imports I mean outside my region not country, will be as close to native amm as possible. For me this is also a hobby, or more accurately a distraction. I put syrup in a stone filled feeder from time to time away from my girls and it is interesting to see the variety of bees it attracts, sort of let's you know who is in your patch

 

[robmort]

Bees bringing in lots of black and pale yellow pollen this morning, which considering the lack of flowers about now makes me wonder on which plants they found it; any ideas?

 

[Dekzion]

My hives are very busy, even in the rain they are still in and out. They're bringing in some orangey yellow pollen very much like dandelion, and big bundles of it too

 

[Nannysbees]

Gave all mine a feed today

 

[Newbeeneil]

Gave 50+ hives their 4th vape today. Most seemed strong and very active even in the intermittent rain bringing in bright yellow pollen but I lost another colony to wasps .

 

[Penninetrader]

Gave 50+ hives their 4th vape today. Most seemed strong and very active even in the intermittent rain bringing in bright yellow pollen but I lost another colony to wasps .

What size was this one that succombed. I have some wasps about but not great in number. I have nothing like in number the colonies that you have to look after. My one weak nuc, I have shut the entrance down to 8mm which at the moment seems to be working.

 

[Penninetrader]

One of my favoured colonies I today condensed down to one bb and for the first time ever saw the queen, she was dark brown and black. They have plenty of stores but only 2 frames of capped brood. I did not have time to check for eggs as things were getting in a bit of a mess due to some rogue comb of honey spilling out. I rearranged frames so as to provide empty drawn comb close to the brood. When the brood emerges that should leave plenty of laying space and given the amount of stores syrup is off of the menu for awhile. We will see if the bees think that a sound plan or not.

 

[The Poot]

One of my favoured colonies I today condensed down to one bb and for the first time ever saw the queen, she was dark brown and black. They have plenty of stores but only 2 frames of capped brood. I did not have time to check for eggs as things were getting in a bit of a mess due to some rogue comb of honey spilling out. I rearranged frames so as to provide empty drawn comb close to the brood. When the brood emerges that should leave plenty of laying space and given the amount of stores syrup is off of the menu for awhile. We will see if the bees think that a sound plan or not.

I must say it seems odd, putting your two posts together, that you did this at this time of year, when you are also a little concerned about wasps.
If you intended to condense the colony down, earlier would have been better than October. You have broken the propolis seals the bees would have worked on for Winter, you’ve split sealed honey stores and alerted the local wasps to what’s in the hive.
To keep them on double brood, using the lower box as a baffle might have been a better option, then you could continue feeding to be sure they have sufficient for the Winter, safeguarded them against wasp robbing and the bees would have sorted themselves out, as to configuration within the box.
You also risked harming your lovely queen at a time the bees would have been doomed if you had….

Having said that, I hope it works out for them - and you.

 

[Macbear]

Thank goodness for the split done earlier in the year. It is now my only viable colony. The two main colonies treated with formic pro are probably doomed as they are not Q-right. The weaker has loads of stores, but decreasing bee numbers. I united the Q- colonies as they aren't likely to be any help to the viable colony - IF some overwinter maybe re-queen as early as possible in 2025.
It was not the best weather [16 degrees ish and after a passing rain shower], but the forecast is even worse so it had to be done so the bees can be undisturbed for the rest of the year. Still putting Anthisan on my left thumb!