Action stations operation Varroa

I was a bit concerned to see so many varroa mites on the collection board under the mesh floor so decided it was time to treat the colony, it's quite easy really, just take the roof off and plave a tray of Apiguard on top of the brood frames, this contains thymol and is supposed to kill the majority of varroa in the colony, you will never get rid of them completely! You just have to keep treating them in one way or another!

Another dose of Apiguard in two weeks time and then in late November/December a treatment with Oxalic Acid, sounds scary but you can google anything and it doesn't look to difficult.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ht4hVbSraHg&feature=related

Varroa Destructor!

On hols now but had a quick check through hive on Friday just to see if all ok.

I didn't find the old marked queen so maybe the workers have decided her time is up and killed her? But did see the new queen and some larvae and brood so she seems to be ok.

I had been a bit lazy doing the varroa check as hadn't seen much evidence when I had looked before, wow I was in for a shock when I removed the tray to do a count! there were too many to count but it had been a few weeks since I had remove the tray, in future will remove every day and count.

However perhaps it's time to do some serious treatment, you aren't supposed to before honey harvest, but as I am not going to get any honey this year I think it's better to act early, this will be my job for Friday when I am back home.

Two queens part 4!!!

OK they are still both alive, saw them today both on the same slide and within 3cms of each other, so much for queens fighting it out to the death!

OK a bit tough to see them, but imagine a diagonal line from bottom left to top right and then a quarter in from each end are the queens. Bottom left is the marked queen, you can just make out blue marker paint, she is quirt dark and has a pointed butt! She is in a slight clearing above three empty cells. Top right is the new queen, a more golden colour, same pointy butt, she is immediately below the two empty cells.

Perhaps this is bee history in the making?

Lots of wasp activity trying to rob honey, watched a group of bees smoother two wasps and then roll them out of the hive, give those wasps hell ladies:-)

PS picked up my second sting, right through the glove in my thumb!

Two Queens part 3

Late Friday afternoon a light drizzle started, would it mean no inspection of my colony by Mike and Sue who were due at 7pm.
Well the inspection went ahead care of a large umbrella, (thanks Joe).
It didn't start to well, lucky it wasn't a test! Couldn't get the smoker lit, lighter ran out of fuel and then matches got blown out by wind, got there in the end, phew.
They were immediately impressed with the temperament of the bees, very calm, just as well with me looking after them!
Went quickly through the frames looking for the Queens, soon found the new Queen, but no sign of the old marked Queen, felt a bit happier that I wasn't seeing things and that what I had seen was a new Queen.
They thought the colony looked well, plenty of larvae, brood and honey stores, the new Queen has been busy.
I'm told that I am very lucky to have a colony and Queen like this, it is called supercedure and does happen too often, the old Queen usually swarms. This indicates that my new Queen is likely to be of a low swarming nature, a very valuable trait.
Inspection followed by a glass of wine and some bee chat.
Thanks for popping round Mike and Sue

Bees prepare to rebel boarders:-)

The bees have been busy keeping raiders out of the hive, mainly wasps and other bees, but I spotted this trying to slip into the hive the other evening, it looks more like a fly but mimics a bumble bee! Anyway it didn't get in.

Because the hive entrance was wide the bees were struggling to defend the hive given that they are a relatively young colony and nowhere near up to strength, so put the entrance block in which drastically reduces the size of the entrance, it seriously confused the bees but they seem to have come the terms with it now.

Well that except at about 4.30pm everyday when there is masses of activity, I wonder if this is the time of day when the drones return to the hive after an afternoon hanging out with their mates trying to bag a virgin queen?

Friday evening sees a visit from Mike and Sue from BeesnBeans who taught me over the winter, it will be interesting to get an experts opinion on the colony.

Two queens continued

Well it seems that it could be possible to have two queens in the hive, which is called superceeding, this is where colony believes existing queen isn't performing, pretty rare this time of year especially as the marked queen is this years queen, time will tell, one of them will disappear in time usually the older queen which is marked.
But if this has happened or is happening I am told that it would indicate that the colony is a non swarming or very low swarming race and as such worth looking after.