Monday, May 31, 2010
The Art of Splitting a Hive - Part 2 (May 30th Sunday)
The temperature was in the 90s, however, it wasn't as humid and we waited until approximately 4:30pm to open Hive #2. The smoker was working nicely, which was unusual. I've learned to get the smoker started while suiting up and gathering tools to work in the hives. You don't want to be blowing fire at your bees, just smoke. Untreated burlap, 100% cotton fabric, leaves, anything that is natural and not synthetic is good fuel for a smoker.
The bees were very mild towards me but took an extreme loathing to my father. Later, my father said he had been eating onions and perhaps they didn't like the smell. Not sure. The bees somehow got under his veil and stung him on the nose. Then my husband who was on hand to keep the smoker going was stung on the ear. The girls were feisty. We went through two supers and could not find the queen. I was determined to find her. It was hot, the bees were bumping into our veils, I tried to to talk to them, and they weren't hearing any of it. No. We did find the queen in the 3rd frame to the last in the very bottom brood super. She was on a frame with a large swarm (queen) cell.
We had an empty super ready to place the queen in when we found her. We brushed her, the attendants and other bees into the empty brood and closed it up temporarily. We found a couple of brood frames, frames full of honey, and pollen frame and placed that in with her. We looked closely at each frame to make sure there were no queen cells on them before inserting them into the new hive. Then filled it up with empty frames. Next, we stuffed the entrance with cloth and relocated her and the new super far away from the parent colony.
We replaced the missing frames with new frames and closed the hive back up. The swarm cells should be hatching very soon and hopefully, the bees will want to stay. After this process was accomplished, we noticed that the bees were no longer hanging out on the porch.
It is possible and highly likely the field bees from the new hive will go back to the parent colony. The nurse bees will remain with the old queen. We have installed an entrance reducer in the new hive to prevent robber bees and allow the bees more control of the entrance to the hive.
The bees were very mild towards me but took an extreme loathing to my father. Later, my father said he had been eating onions and perhaps they didn't like the smell. Not sure. The bees somehow got under his veil and stung him on the nose. Then my husband who was on hand to keep the smoker going was stung on the ear. The girls were feisty. We went through two supers and could not find the queen. I was determined to find her. It was hot, the bees were bumping into our veils, I tried to to talk to them, and they weren't hearing any of it. No. We did find the queen in the 3rd frame to the last in the very bottom brood super. She was on a frame with a large swarm (queen) cell.
We had an empty super ready to place the queen in when we found her. We brushed her, the attendants and other bees into the empty brood and closed it up temporarily. We found a couple of brood frames, frames full of honey, and pollen frame and placed that in with her. We looked closely at each frame to make sure there were no queen cells on them before inserting them into the new hive. Then filled it up with empty frames. Next, we stuffed the entrance with cloth and relocated her and the new super far away from the parent colony.
We replaced the missing frames with new frames and closed the hive back up. The swarm cells should be hatching very soon and hopefully, the bees will want to stay. After this process was accomplished, we noticed that the bees were no longer hanging out on the porch.
It is possible and highly likely the field bees from the new hive will go back to the parent colony. The nurse bees will remain with the old queen. We have installed an entrance reducer in the new hive to prevent robber bees and allow the bees more control of the entrance to the hive.
The Art of Splitting a Hive - Part 1 (May 27th Thursday)
Last Thursday, May 27th, my father called me and said he thought one of my hives swarmed. There was a cluster of honeybees way up in a tree near the bee yard. I asked him if he could capture them while I was on my way out to his house as it would be an hour before I arrived. He went back out and they had flown away deeper into the woods and he wasn't able to locate them. The honeybees must have been from a neighbor's hive or a wild bee hive.
When I arrived at my dad's house it was 91 degrees and approximately 1pm. My mother had finished preparing lunch and I enjoyed her wonderful cooked meal of cornbread, beans with green onion, and corn on the cob. My father and I then suited up and went into the bee yard approximately 2pm and the temperature had risen to 95 degrees. Inside a bee suit and direct sun a felt like 100 degrees.
We opened up Hive #2 because it had a lot of bees "out on the porch" meaning that bees were covering the outside from the entrance up the front. There were a lot of bees in the hive and we were going to look for swarm cells (queen cells) to see if what we thought was on target, this hive was getting ready to swarm.
We did find many thick and long swarm cells but did not find the queen. We went through three supers twice and could not find the queen. It was getting hotter and we were pretty exhausted so we decided to call it quits and try again in a couple of days with plan B if we could not find the queen.
There were several possible variables here:
1) the queen died and the bees were creating a new queen
2) the hive swarmed and the old queen went with the swarm (we ruled that out because there were thousands of bees in the hive. Too many to believe these were remaining bees.)
3) the queen died and there was a virgin queen in the amongst the workers. Virgin queens are hard to spot because their abdomens aren't full of eggs yet. But there were closed up swarm cells so if the virgin queen was in the hive she would have killed the queens in the swarm cells.
We closed up the hive and tried to cool down. A great way to cool down is to take a wet wash cloth and wrap it around ice cubes and apply it to the back of the neck. Then take a couple more wash cloths that have been run under very cold water and lay one each on your arms. Extend your arms with palms up and place the wash cloths where the crook of your arm is and that will bring your body temp down.
When I arrived at my dad's house it was 91 degrees and approximately 1pm. My mother had finished preparing lunch and I enjoyed her wonderful cooked meal of cornbread, beans with green onion, and corn on the cob. My father and I then suited up and went into the bee yard approximately 2pm and the temperature had risen to 95 degrees. Inside a bee suit and direct sun a felt like 100 degrees.
We opened up Hive #2 because it had a lot of bees "out on the porch" meaning that bees were covering the outside from the entrance up the front. There were a lot of bees in the hive and we were going to look for swarm cells (queen cells) to see if what we thought was on target, this hive was getting ready to swarm.
We did find many thick and long swarm cells but did not find the queen. We went through three supers twice and could not find the queen. It was getting hotter and we were pretty exhausted so we decided to call it quits and try again in a couple of days with plan B if we could not find the queen.
There were several possible variables here:
1) the queen died and the bees were creating a new queen
2) the hive swarmed and the old queen went with the swarm (we ruled that out because there were thousands of bees in the hive. Too many to believe these were remaining bees.)
3) the queen died and there was a virgin queen in the amongst the workers. Virgin queens are hard to spot because their abdomens aren't full of eggs yet. But there were closed up swarm cells so if the virgin queen was in the hive she would have killed the queens in the swarm cells.
We closed up the hive and tried to cool down. A great way to cool down is to take a wet wash cloth and wrap it around ice cubes and apply it to the back of the neck. Then take a couple more wash cloths that have been run under very cold water and lay one each on your arms. Extend your arms with palms up and place the wash cloths where the crook of your arm is and that will bring your body temp down.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Inspection - Fail
The rains made it impossible to get to all the hives. Only made one inspection. Did not find any wax moths, hive beetles, or ants in hive; however, did find moth larvae under screened bottom board. Lifted off the hive body, swept larvae off and killed them. Even though the rains are terrific for the gardens it does seem to incite the insects to breed rapidly. Lots of birds in the area so I hope they fill their bellies with these insects.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Inspection and Possible Split - May 24, 2010
Today I will be removing feeders from three of the hives, determining if any need additional super, and placing honey supers on the hives that currently don't have one. Also, checking for moths and hive beetles as we've been having rain for the past two weeks.
One hive may be ready to swarm and we will be checking for swarm cells and possibly splitting this hive today. Removing the queen, take a frame of open brood - nurse bees stay with her, frame of honey, a couple of open frames, and frame with pollen. Don't need a whole lot of bees to take with her. Move the queen and new box away from parent hive. For the new hive: find a couple of frames with nice fat swarm cells, and leave most of the bees behind in the new hive. Honey frames, brood, pollen frame, and an open frame.
One hive may be ready to swarm and we will be checking for swarm cells and possibly splitting this hive today. Removing the queen, take a frame of open brood - nurse bees stay with her, frame of honey, a couple of open frames, and frame with pollen. Don't need a whole lot of bees to take with her. Move the queen and new box away from parent hive. For the new hive: find a couple of frames with nice fat swarm cells, and leave most of the bees behind in the new hive. Honey frames, brood, pollen frame, and an open frame.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Inspection - May 10th, Monday
Hives (Haymarket) - Found lots of eggs and brood. Bees have populated very nicely. No signs of hive beetles or ants. Using the chicken feeders to supply sugar syrup in hives was a brillant idea that my father came up with this past Spring. Cut down on pests invading the top feeders. I plan to stop feeding the bees in this hives within a week or two and will put honey supers on top.
Hives (Hume)
Hive #1 (from left - last hive on the end- removed the top feeder and inserted a Mann Lake Feeder that was modified so that the top cover could be fitted on. I'm not fond of the top feeders because they attract ants, hive beetles, and bees drown in them. The Mann Lake feeder has plastic mesh tubes that fit down in a top board. The only problem with the design is that the board juts up and doesn't allow the top cover to fit on the super. My father cut the board down to where it fits proper and works like a charm.
Did not put a honey super on this one because we are still feeding this colony. The bees built up a double comb on one of the frames and it collapsed when I pulled out the frame. We had to prop it up with a frame and slid a support frame in. Very prolific in brood but not the build up of honey stores as we have seen in the other hives. No pests found.
Hive #2 - 6: Lots of bees and brood. Honey stores sufficient. Removed the feeders and put on the honey supers. Did find a hive beetle in top feeder on Hive #2. We removed the feeders so hopefully that will eliminate the problem.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Inspection - May 2, 2010
No sign of small hive beetles (SHB) so I didn't use the traps. Lots of eggs, brood, honey, and colorful pollen.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Small Hive Beetle Trap
Today, May 2, 2010, I will try out the new and improved McGuiver style SHB trap. Use slim jewel CD/DVD case and snap out center tabs. Bait for small hive beetles. http://bit.ly/bL7Hmm or http://bit.ly/ctBm3i
This method was mentioned in my latest Loudoun County Beekeeping newsletter. Very excited and high hopes for this latest method.
This method was mentioned in my latest Loudoun County Beekeeping newsletter. Very excited and high hopes for this latest method.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Bees Eye View
This is the view the bees will be getting from their hives. Great source for water. The other hives are at other locations.
Set up for Hives 1, 3 and 4
My father built this stand for hives 1 through 4. Hive 2 is due in next week from California.
Another Feeder
My dad absolutely loves the girls and wants to ensure that no one has a drowning accident while sipping sugar syrup. He lays the material on the floats in the Brush Mountain feeders. It has cut down on the loss of bees significantly. What you see on the right is a pollen patty.
Inspected Hives - April 18th 2010
Hives
1 (2) 3 4 5 6 (remote)
Hives 1, 3, 4, 6 (Carnolians): Queens released and things look fine.
Hive 5 (Carnolian): Queen is doing well. Queen located in bottom brood box and brood pattern is excellent.
Hive (2) (Cordovan): Due in next week April 27.
1 (2) 3 4 5 6 (remote)
Hives 1, 3, 4, 6 (Carnolians): Queens released and things look fine.
Hive 5 (Carnolian): Queen is doing well. Queen located in bottom brood box and brood pattern is excellent.
Hive (2) (Cordovan): Due in next week April 27.
What I have learned in my two years of beekeeping.
What I have learned in my two years of beekeeping.
1. Before you decide to keep bees find someone who actually has/is keeping bees that has agreed to take you under their wing to answer your questions (ALL QUESTIONS) and will take a look at your hive every now and then if you need them to.
Local beekeeping clubs do offer classes at the beginning of the year. Before you sign up for the class and put your money down, be sure that they guarantee you will get a mentor to assist you with your first year of beekeeping. When I signed up with a local beekeeping club in 2008 they allowed more people in the class than mentors could handle. Consequently, the mentors were overwhelmed and couldn't handle the questions of the new beekeepers. This could have been prevented if the club had closed the class after it reached certain number. Fortunately, I had my father to assist me and I know of several members that got discouraged and quit.
2. You must be passsionate about keeping bees. The money, time, and research involved can be overwhelming.
3. Keep a journal. If you are a solitary beekeeper this is essential to learn from your successes and failures.
4. If you don't have the time to keep bees why not financially contribute to an organization(s) that supports beekeeping?
http://www.beeculturemagazine.com/storycms/index.cfm?cat=Story&recordID=608
http://www.helpsavebees.co.uk/bee-intro.html
Help Save the Bees donates all net profits from the sale of products and services, via this website and through other activities, to 'The Bumblebee Conservation Trust' (BBCT), so that they can continue with their invaluable research and conservation work.
5. If you don't have the means or time to keep bees you can:
a. Plant a garden full of flowers that bees love! Invite pollinators to your neighborhood by planting a pollinator friendly habitat in your garden, farm, school, park or just about anywhere!
http://www.pollinator.org/guides.htm (Type in your zipcode to find out what plants you can put in your garden for pollinators in your area.
b. Build Mason Bee House. You won't need to install them or feed them. Just build the house and they will come.
How To Build A Mason Bee Block http://vimeo.com/9236864 *very easy --
Make your own solitary bee house http://www.dry-ideas.com/2008/05/make-your-own-solitary-bee-house.html
The list will evolve as time goes on...
1. Before you decide to keep bees find someone who actually has/is keeping bees that has agreed to take you under their wing to answer your questions (ALL QUESTIONS) and will take a look at your hive every now and then if you need them to.
Local beekeeping clubs do offer classes at the beginning of the year. Before you sign up for the class and put your money down, be sure that they guarantee you will get a mentor to assist you with your first year of beekeeping. When I signed up with a local beekeeping club in 2008 they allowed more people in the class than mentors could handle. Consequently, the mentors were overwhelmed and couldn't handle the questions of the new beekeepers. This could have been prevented if the club had closed the class after it reached certain number. Fortunately, I had my father to assist me and I know of several members that got discouraged and quit.
2. You must be passsionate about keeping bees. The money, time, and research involved can be overwhelming.
3. Keep a journal. If you are a solitary beekeeper this is essential to learn from your successes and failures.
4. If you don't have the time to keep bees why not financially contribute to an organization(s) that supports beekeeping?
http://www.beeculturemagazine.com/storycms/index.cfm?cat=Story&recordID=608
http://www.helpsavebees.co.uk/bee-intro.html
Help Save the Bees donates all net profits from the sale of products and services, via this website and through other activities, to 'The Bumblebee Conservation Trust' (BBCT), so that they can continue with their invaluable research and conservation work.
5. If you don't have the means or time to keep bees you can:
a. Plant a garden full of flowers that bees love! Invite pollinators to your neighborhood by planting a pollinator friendly habitat in your garden, farm, school, park or just about anywhere!
http://www.pollinator.org/guides.htm (Type in your zipcode to find out what plants you can put in your garden for pollinators in your area.
b. Build Mason Bee House. You won't need to install them or feed them. Just build the house and they will come.
How To Build A Mason Bee Block http://vimeo.com/9236864 *very easy --
Make your own solitary bee house http://www.dry-ideas.com/2008/05/make-your-own-solitary-bee-house.html
The list will evolve as time goes on...
Sunday, April 18, 2010
12 April 2010 - Installation Four Hives
My father and I installed four hives from Georgia (Carnolian) last Monday, 4/12/2010. Sunny day, temps approx 70, no wind. Tomorrow, 4/19/2010 will inspect to see if queen has been released. Next week, two hives coming from California (Cordovan).
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Notes on Sugar Syrup
I am rethinking feeding my bees sugar syrup and will do so only if I have no harvested honey on hand to give my bees. I won't use honey from other apiaries because I don't know the condition of their hives and feel confident giving them honey from my hives. Here is an excerpt from an entomologist regarding sugar syrup (I don't use corn syrup but use white granulated sugar when making sugar syrup).
http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode.cfm?id=to-bee-or-not-to-bee-09-08-21
One thing that Reed Johnson found that's in his dissertation, when you feed honeybees honey, they upregulate their cytochrome p450 monooxygenases, these enzymes that process among other things plant chemicals, when you give them sugar, it's nothing. So when you feed them on a sugar diet they are not turning on their chemical processing equipment, so this is something that nobody expected. I mean people aren't used to thinking of honeybees as broad generalists because they'll feed on hundreds of different flowers, but in a way they are dietary super specialists because they feed on this narrow range—they feed on pollen, honey and bee bread. And granted the components can come from all different places, but feeding on nectar or honey derived from nectars [is a] very different proposition from feeding on other types of plant tissue because plants load up their vulnerable tissues with chemicals, you know, natural pesticides, so that insects won't eat them, but they want insects to eat nectar; that's the whole point [of nectar].
http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode.cfm?id=to-bee-or-not-to-bee-09-08-21
One thing that Reed Johnson found that's in his dissertation, when you feed honeybees honey, they upregulate their cytochrome p450 monooxygenases, these enzymes that process among other things plant chemicals, when you give them sugar, it's nothing. So when you feed them on a sugar diet they are not turning on their chemical processing equipment, so this is something that nobody expected. I mean people aren't used to thinking of honeybees as broad generalists because they'll feed on hundreds of different flowers, but in a way they are dietary super specialists because they feed on this narrow range—they feed on pollen, honey and bee bread. And granted the components can come from all different places, but feeding on nectar or honey derived from nectars [is a] very different proposition from feeding on other types of plant tissue because plants load up their vulnerable tissues with chemicals, you know, natural pesticides, so that insects won't eat them, but they want insects to eat nectar; that's the whole point [of nectar].
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Pictures of the Cordovans
These are my "blonde bees" from California. I'm very pleased they survived the harsh winter. The queen is marked and is to the left above the hive tool.
First Inspection of 2010 - 7 March 2010 (Sunday)
Today was high 50's, breezy, and sunny.
Approximately 2:30pm my father and I inspected the hives.
Hive #1: Carnolians
Feeders still had sugar syrup on one side. I had also put a comb of honey from last years harvest on the other side, which was all gone. Looks like the bees prefer honey to sugar water. A few dead bees and lots of live bees. The top body was heavy with honey, capped and uncapped. Located the queen in the middle of the top body. Put a little more honey with comb in top feeder.
Hive #2: Cordovans (Blonde Bees)
Top feeder was dry...sugar granuales left but no sugar water at all. Comb honey consumed. There are twice the number of bees in this hive than Hive #1, which explains why the food is gone. Not too much honey in the hives. We found two large hive beetles, which we promptly smashed. Located the queen in the middle medium super. We switched the top large super with the medium super. So the queen is now in the top unless she decides to move down.
We poured all the sugar syrup into both sides of the feeder as emergency feeding and also added honey + comb from last years harvest.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)