Trevor Gillbanks

1 hour ago, Alastair said:

I would still prefer the NZ model to the American one.

Yes.  Also the European or Australian model.

We are very fortunate that we were able to shut down a couple of little islands in the South Pacific.

I agree.  I have a great Covid19 time.  Apart from having to cancel our overseas trip in April.

However, there are a lot of people who have not been so fortunate.

1 hour ago, Gerrit said:

Maybe not the only possibility. If the street where the bumblebees were found is by any chance lined by certain flowering trees (Tilia), bumblebees can die while foraging.

Sure, but still poisoning. 

Thanks @dansar  That story now makes a lot more sense.

42 minutes ago, Maggie James said:

Trevor, was it my imagination the other night when I saw the item on TV1, was there a Plant and Food scientists interviewed?  Are they also involved?

I am not sure @Maggie James I did not see the TV1 program.  

Collectively we have been looking at this project for a few years now, Pete (the dog man) came to our SNI group and asked us for assistance.

The approach here is slightly different in that we are trying to separate and identify the volatiles within AFB.  This is to try and prevent false positives.

I don't want to say any more details on this. Sorry.  Except to say that the SNI Group was the first to put their hand in their pockets and we have donated several thousand dollars to it.

35 minutes ago, EmmetHuttValley said:

Is this the same project that the brilliant dog trainer we had at Bee Green Camp Rangi talked about in February this year Trevor?

Yes. it is the same project.

The SNI Group has been assisting with this project for about 3 years.

The first part of the project is to identify the volatiles that make up AFB (my words, not scientific).

Massey University in Palmerston North is doing the Laboratory work to identify the volatiles.

Fun times in the Manuka wars.

2 hours ago, Gerry said:

Imagine our surprise, walk into the Holly orchard and lift the lid on a box, expecting the worst.  What we found was, double deep full of bees, comb on every frame, and the top box rather heavy.

The bees always do it their way.

1 minute ago, Wildflower said:

I actually thought I had frozen them?

 

I have never seen the wax moth grub until now. Seen the damage though!

The BIG one was a beauty,huge beast head deeply buried in cell...and the little one? Well on it's way to being a big monster. Very little webbing. Hey. You are right. What do I have to lose? Will check out life cycle of wax moth and other than than keep an eye on hive. Thanks Trev. 

There are two type of wax moth in NZ.  Greater and lesser wax moth.  The lesser wax moth also eats wood and can be quite destructive.

Yes.  even if you have frozen the frames, the wax moth can get into pretty small spacers to re-infect the frames.  As @lexy said,  You could refreeze them to make sure you kill all the little beggars.

If they have been in storage then possibly no more eggs. 

Light infestation of wax moth will get cleaned up by the bees. Unfortunately, if there is damage to the comb from the wax moth, then the bees will quite often make holes in the comb or make it into drone comb [damaged area]. What do you have to loose by trying it.

8 hours ago, Sputnik said:

What are the potential pitfalls here?

Potential for spray damage.   You need to talk to them.  So they understand what the bees require.

Empty hives are not an option at the gardeners are not that stupid they would not see that there are any bees flying.

Pretty near impossible to get out.  Trap outs can work, but very rarely and take a long time.  Extermination is usually the best.

1 hour ago, gordie said:

I have the new ones, seeing as they have a higher percentage of ventilation than the original, will the air flow from below need to be blocked off a bit in winter?

They actually have a lower percentage.  But it does not matter.  Do not block off the ventilation in the winter.

23 minutes ago, EmmetHuttValley said:

 

Thanks for the refresher @Trevor Gillbanks. The HD original is still a great piece of hive ware but the new base is simply awesome. I'm finding the three dial entrance a really sophisticated tool and it is certainly a better fit base to fix to hive stands.

Yes.  I like the new ones.

9 hours ago, yesbut said:

Yes because she gets bonked by virus laden drones.

So, the message here is to select your partners very carefully.

1 hour ago, Wildflower said:

Awww! Come on Trev. This could be a super duper special tough bunch.

Or not.

8 hours ago, yesbut said:

Speaking of which is @glynn still around ?

Yes.  Just very busy at present.

3 hours ago, yesbut said:

Central Nth Is can be as much a  freezing miserable hole as anywhere else.

Yes,  I spent 15 years in Waiouru and we had snow for Christmas on several occasions. 

9 hours ago, Mummzie said:

I suppose what I'm asking is 'what's your opinion on why they have survived in the wild' 

Ah, But here is the conundrum.  

Whilst there have been bees in that wall for at least 2 years.  Are they the same colony, or has the cavity been reoccupied by another swarm.  

I don't know the answer to that, so I will be treating them once the queen has go to lay again.

Currently, I am more concerned that they have a laying queen , rather than they are the varroa survivor of the bee world.

Either way, I don't much care.  I already have plenty of bees and at this time of the year it is just another hive to look after.

Pretty much, I prefer to raise my own queens or get them off @glynn, @frazzledfozzleor Lion Apiaries.  They all have very nice, quiet and productive bees.

8 hours ago, Mummzie said:

what was their varoa status Trev?

They looked in great order.  It took 5 hours to do the cutout so looking for varroa was not high of the ToDo list.

I will treat them once they have settled in.  Also I will do an alcohol wash once they have fresh eggs in the colony.

No sign of AFB,   Huge blocks of worker brood and also lots of drones.

A very high activity hive, however, I have put them into fresh foundation as well as 3 frames of there own brood.  They are currently occupying 2 brood boxes and I think they will need a third (once they settle down)

Interesting cutout today at Massey University. Thanks

to Allan and Dan from Clearview for your efforts today.  Not everyone is brave enough to be in a room full of bees.

Colony 3 m tall and 1 m wide and 250mm deep. A very large colony which has been there for about 2 years.

First cut at the bottom

Where the rest of the colony was.

Getting into the work.

Just a few more bees.

Cutting the next section of wall.

Removing some honey.  over 20 kgs

Bees do make a heck of a mess.

The last section.  I am glad I am not doing the fix up.

It looks like you have had your moneys worth from the Caricell unit.

22 minutes ago, Bighands said:

Didn't you try Carniolans?

Perhaps they were not in NZ at that time.??

Only 1 dozen. ??