What did you do in the Apiary today?

[Erichalfbee]

Yes ... those big black ones that look at you with the attitude ... you think I'm going to move ? You are just a human and I'm a SPIDER ...

Love them. I look forward to autumn when I see them scuttling across the living room floor.

 

[steve1958]

Spent an hour in the sunshine watching the bees.
Also managed to kill a dozen wasps.

 

[pargyle]

Love them. I look forward to autumn when I see them scuttling across the living room floor.

Our last dog used to catch them and eat them - disgusting animal. Our latest one looks at them, looks at me and then moves out of their way !

 

[Antipodes]

I had one a few years ago where I saw drones flying on warm days overwinter. They limped on into April with the queen laying some worker brood and the beekeeper hoping they would supercede.
At worst they can look after the comb until spring and we'll find out.
Paid actual money for this queen to improve the flock. She's looked good since introducing her in early August. Time will tell.

Some colonies seem to carry drones through. Long after social media reports of drones being evicted. I had a really strong colony here in early September (your March) this season I’m in now, and it had drones flying enthusiastically at that time and when it was just 12 degrees - almost outnumbering flying workers. I’ve split it successfully into quite a few parts. They’d found a good early nectar flow and I guess a capable queen.

 

[Superlativesoul]

Watching the bees in the garden, really going about their business on neighbours winter flowering Jasmine so I'm told .Only drawback is they will be consuming stores ,this unseasonal weather appears to be continuing for the rest of the week .Rain not due till Saturday.
John.

 

[Parsonage Bees]

Some colonies seem to carry drones through. Long after social media reports of drones being evicted. I had a really strong colony here in early September (your March) this season I’m in now, and it had drones flying enthusiastically at that time and when it was just 12 degrees - almost outnumbering flying workers. I’ve split it successfully into quite a few parts. They’d found a good early nectar flow and I guess a capable queen.

That sounds odd. You're now into our June so you must have had a good look at them by now. And split them! ?
I read very early drones as a failing queen or an unmated late supercedure. Thinks! Maybe you have both.
Good luck with them. You're at the right end of the year to sort them out.
. . . . Ben

 

[Antipodes]

That sounds odd. You're now into our June so you must have had a good look at them by now. And split them! ?
I read very early drones as a failing queen or an unmated late supercedure. Thinks! Maybe you have both.
Good luck with them. You're at the right end of the year to sort them out.
. . . . Ben

We are into your May now (next month here is the start of summer - we go with the start of December for summer). Yes, I have split them (that was in the second week of September) and have three newly mated queens out of it (all lovely looking insects) heading three new colonies-all laying beautifully, and kept the older queen in a nuc for further use -as needed. I took a bunch of capped brood from the original colony too -to boost another colony. It was a big one and very happy to keep drones going all year. Masses of worker brood too though. I reckon it would have swarmed in the last week of September.

 

[Penninetrader]

We are into your May now (next month here is the start of summer - we go with the start of December for summer). Yes, I have split them (that was in the second week of September) and have three newly mated queens out of it (all lovely looking insects) heading three new colonies-all laying beautifully, and kept the older queen in a nuc for further use -as needed. I took a bunch of capped brood from the original colony too -to boost another colony. It was a big one and very happy to keep drones going all year. Masses of worker brood too though. I reckon it would have swarmed in the last week of September.

Had you made the decision to forego any honey production from this colony due to the queen strain being desirable for further queen rearing. The 3 new colonies, when will they achieve enough bees for honey production level

 

[Antipodes]

The 3 new colonies, when will they achieve enough bees for honey production level

Hopefully soon. I've moved the strongest to a new site with an impending honey flow and one of the other ones has had brood and bees added to it from another colony, and should go well too. I'll try a similar thing in due course with the third. The colony that got a chunk of its brood/bees back in September is really humming and is bringing in a spring crop.

 

[madasafish]

Love them. I look forward to autumn when I see them scuttling across the living room floor.

The joys of old houses: we have at least one spider apparently - in every room.

 

[Penninetrader]

The joys of old houses: we have at least one spider apparently - in every room.

Only one ? We have more than that, we like spiders and some are quite large. It does surprise that Beeks would be a little bit bothered about them when you have to dive into the den of 30k plus who could give you quite a serious beating. But that is humans.

 

[Nannysbees]

That's it until next year and maybe a dose of oxalic before Christmas

 

[Nannysbees]

Nearly complete.Just for bee equipment, all in one place

 

[JamezF]

I took the topper around my home apiary this afternoon. It's been in need of attention for some time as the nettles had become rather tall, but my compact tractor has been out of action for a few months thanks to a knackered radiator cap. Absolutely no-one appears to have them in stock or could suggest a possible alternative. After much searching, I found that with a little attention from a Dremel to narrow the retaining lugs, the cap from a mid-70s MGB is the same specification, fits nicely, and is a quarter of the price. So the engine no longer overheats nor starts spewing coolant after running for five minutes.

It's been bright and sunny here today which makes a very pleasant and welcome change from the depressing permacloud of the last three weeks, but there's quite a chilly north-easterly wind and it must be easily below 10°C even before accounting for the wind chill. I was impressed to see that a few of the ladies were bringing in pollen regardless. Tough as old boots, they are

James

 

[Newbeeneil]

Nearly complete.Just for bee equipment, all in one place

Very nice but I notice a problem.





Its half the size you will need!

 

[E&MBees]

Only one ? We have more than that, we like spiders and some are quite large. It does surprise that Beeks would be a little bit bothered about them when you have to dive into the den of 30k plus who could give you quite a serious beating. But that is humans.

Happily pick up a bee any day with my fingers, spiders, there’s a special jar for them!

 

[JamezF]

The thing with spiders is that they shouldn't be able to move so fast given how many legs they have.

James

 

[JamezF]

Its half the size you will need!

And if you make it twice as big, it will still be half the size you need

James

 

[Erichalfbee]

The joys of old houses: we have at least one spider apparently - in every room.

We must have hundreds. We have these


As well as the big house spiders.
These things eat each other!

 

[Antipodes]

We must have hundreds. We have these

View attachment 41595
As well as the big house spiders.
These things eat each other!

Here, if you have a brick on a hive, you sometimes get a shock as you lift it ...particularly if you have the frog side down, as it is a perfect spot for the large huntsman spider. They come out with great speed and run up your arm towards the neck region....