After reading in other thread about bees storing fondant in frames, i decided to remove it so bees can make space for laying after consuming stores. So i went to remove fondant of three hives earlier seeing as the bees where flying in/out and weather was ok'ish.
Hive 1 with super under, lifted insulation off and there was only a small circle of fondant taken with some bees still working on it. Removed fondant and covered with strip of wood. One thing I did notice on crown board and insulation is that it was nice and warm when I touched it with my hand. I quickly put back the insulation and no hasle from bees.
Hive 2 the bees have taken all the fondant apart from a few small 50p size lumps. Removed this quickly and covered with insulation again. Same thing as other hive nice and warm to touch. Seen lots of small crumbs of foundant under this hive. Did bees discard it or just drop it.
Overwintered nuc next, lifted the insulation and touched with hand and was cold, same in insulation and my first thoughts was sh1t, bad news! Because this fondant was under crown board and not above like others, it hardened and there was a gap between crown and brood box so it must have been losing heat somewhere. I quickly removed fondant and had quick look at 1 frame with sliding it half out, It was full of capped honey as was the frame it was beside. I didn't really want to go into hive but thought It was best considering the circumstances. Did I make the right choice, maybe not but didn't want to leave the hive with that gap because maybe it would create air movement on bees.
I put in 3 varroa boards under mesh floor to check varroa drop. Didn't have any vasiline to spread over board but (this might be bit fcuked up but did it anyway) had tub of sudacream and covered all around the edges of the boards so the mites can't walk off the board after falling onto it. Do the mites even survive after falling, if not its something I don't know so thought best to cover corners just incase.
