Wild colonies

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sebrose

New Bee
Joined
Jun 16, 2019
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Location
West Linton
Hive Type
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I have been trying to manage some hives for the past few years - 2 polystyrene jumbo, 1 wooden top-bar. I used thymol & icing sugar to control varroa and fed them on fondant over winter, but lost them all, both winters that I tried.

Yesterday I noticed that there is honey bee activity at two of the hives (top-bar & jumbo). I have no idea where these bees came from. They clearly won't have had any varroa control.

Any advice as to how to proceed would be welcome.
 
Check in the evening to see if they are resident or just looking. Let us know the outcome
E
 
Thymol and sugar dusting aren’t effective varroa controls. How have you lost the colonies? Disease or starvation? All can be sorted out easily Need to work out how they were lost so mistakes aren’t repeated. Just want abit more info.

Welcome to the forum
 
I was contacted by a tree surgeon, 2 weeks ago. They were felling a dangerous hollow oak and discovered a "large" colony (they didn't think it was when they called me). I now have it in a hive. Estimated 60,000 strength, 1.1m depth of comb in a 250mm diameter void (completely filled void). Colony had been there at least 3 years but more likely about 5. I also know of 2 other "wild colonies" in trees that are doing very nicely, including 1 that swarmed yesterday (caught by another bee keeper).
 
As already mentioned, your varroa treatment is poor. If a swarm has moved in I would treat them with oxalic before they get any brood. Then you are off to a cleanish start. Best time for winter feeding is the Autumn! I use fondant in rare emergencies.
 

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