Yesterday, the apiariulus spotted a yellow jacket hanging out in front of the Benedictium. This evening I saw the same thing. Two or three of the buggers were trying to get in the hive. There was a lot of fighting, but at least one of them got in.
I wonder what's up with that? I am sometimes disappointed by the lack of aggression shown by the guard bees of our colonies.
Sunday, September 14, 2014
Bee huddle
Joe had a bee huddle today and talked about winter beekeeping. He suggested feeding beginning on October 1st after the threat of swarm had ended to get enough honey for the winter. Winter feed should be two-to-one sugar to water.
He also talked about wrapping hives for the winter. He hasn't seen any increase in winter survival due to wrapping, but he has noticed that wrapped bees greet the spring in a more flourishing colony. He got me thinking. He wraps his bees in November, since he doesn't want them to get complacent in October.
I picked up another packet of Apilife Var, so we are now up to three, enough to treat our two hives, which we should do soon.
He also talked about wrapping hives for the winter. He hasn't seen any increase in winter survival due to wrapping, but he has noticed that wrapped bees greet the spring in a more flourishing colony. He got me thinking. He wraps his bees in November, since he doesn't want them to get complacent in October.
I picked up another packet of Apilife Var, so we are now up to three, enough to treat our two hives, which we should do soon.
Friday, September 12, 2014
Mouse guards
I closed up the mouse guards on the hive. The day before yesterday I closed the Valentinium's. The bees were a bit more upset by this than I was expecting, I wasn't wearing any gear or even a veil, and I beat a quick retreat after completing the task.
The Benedictium has been bearding lately, and so I did not dare approach it after my experience with the Valentinium. So I waited till evening and things had calmed down somewhat, but there were still quite a few bees hanging out on the stoop. I wore gloves and reached down and grabbed the mouse guard, but could not move it. So I pulled firmly on it until I broke the propolis with a snap, which was immediately followed by loud hum coming from inside the hive. I decided not to stick around.
So I came out yesterday morning before dawn and took a look, but there were still bees guarding the front stoop, so I left them alone.
This afternoon I fired up the smoker and put on a vail and completed the operation.
The Benedictium has been bearding lately, and so I did not dare approach it after my experience with the Valentinium. So I waited till evening and things had calmed down somewhat, but there were still quite a few bees hanging out on the stoop. I wore gloves and reached down and grabbed the mouse guard, but could not move it. So I pulled firmly on it until I broke the propolis with a snap, which was immediately followed by loud hum coming from inside the hive. I decided not to stick around.
So I came out yesterday morning before dawn and took a look, but there were still bees guarding the front stoop, so I left them alone.
This afternoon I fired up the smoker and put on a vail and completed the operation.
Sunday, September 7, 2014
Honey! And some complications
We looked in the supers of our hives today. Most of the frames in the Valentinium's super were empty, but those in the middle were full of capped honey, while those just off from the center the frames had some uncapped honey in the middle of the frame. The two easternmost frames and westernmost frames had nothing but foundation and a bit of drawn, but empty comb. None of the frames in the super had any brood.
The super on the Benedictium was chock full all the way across. About half of the frames in the Benedictium's super had foundation in it, and the other half were foundationless. The foundationless frames were fully drawn, but unfortunately these frames had a bit of brood at the bottom of them.
The Benedictium has definitely been the busier of the two hives for the last few weeks as seen from the outside. It has consistently had more bees coming and going.
So what do we do about our frames with brood in them?
We reassembled the Valentinium as we had found it. We put an empty super with 6 frames in it underneath the Benedictium's to separate it from the brood chambers. I hope that when these brood hatch, they won't be replaced.
The super on the Benedictium was chock full all the way across. About half of the frames in the Benedictium's super had foundation in it, and the other half were foundationless. The foundationless frames were fully drawn, but unfortunately these frames had a bit of brood at the bottom of them.
The Benedictium has definitely been the busier of the two hives for the last few weeks as seen from the outside. It has consistently had more bees coming and going.
So what do we do about our frames with brood in them?
We reassembled the Valentinium as we had found it. We put an empty super with 6 frames in it underneath the Benedictium's to separate it from the brood chambers. I hope that when these brood hatch, they won't be replaced.
Sunday, August 24, 2014
Nectar flow
For the last couple of weeks we've had a nectar flow here. This flow is a little later than the early August nectar flow that I'm told is typical for our region. I guess the flow was delayed by all the cold weather we've been having. The bees, and presumably the flowers, are really enjoying this warm spell now. There is a lot of activity at the hives now. I sure am glad we have a super on each hive, and I hope to see a bit of honey in them soon. Then I guess the plan is to remove the honey and treat the hives with Thymol to take on our mites.
We seem to be having something of a second spring: crocuses, magnolias, clover, along with plenty of buttercups and black-eyed susans.
We seem to be having something of a second spring: crocuses, magnolias, clover, along with plenty of buttercups and black-eyed susans.
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
Sunday, August 10, 2014
Put in the mite boards
When I pulled the mite boards out last week, after three or four days in the hive, I counted 1 to 2 mites per square inch. These boards were put in just before the dusting. Surprisingly, the boards were not covered with powdered sugar.
I just basted now basted the boards in olive oil and slipped them into both hives at 7:15 PM tonight. We will see what the mite count looks like after three days with no powdered sugar.
I just basted now basted the boards in olive oil and slipped them into both hives at 7:15 PM tonight. We will see what the mite count looks like after three days with no powdered sugar.
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