M4tt

Thanks @Jim50. The reason for the question from others about how you treated with strips is that there is concern and anecdotal evidence that they are not killing mites as they should. A couple of reasons why they may not work is 1. Operator error.....not enough strips, wrong placement , not following brood etc, or 2. Probable Varroa resistance to strips. Number 1 is easy to establish Number 2, not so easy . Those that make them are adamant they work as claimed. Anyway, despite your self claimed inexperience with bees, it seems to me that you are moving forward on the right track 😊

If you still had plenty of mites when the Staples went in, it's going to be very difficult to keep that hive alive through winter . As their population declines/crashes , reduce their space and keep them very close to stores so they can keep warm and survive . With the Staples in there , and a bit of love, they will pull through and reward you accordingly next season .

Found a bit of an odd one today . About 6 weeks ago it was queenless. This hive did not respond well to being cooked with Apilife Var in it in late January in the plus 30 degree days . It got retreated with staples sometime in Feb , but had suffered major losses . Anyway, six weeks ago I gave it a frame of eggs and left it to it . Today, I opened it up . It felt light . In the top box were wax moth and a few bees . Next box there was one frame of emerging patchy spotty horrible drone brood , along with worker bees with DWV. There was no worker brood there , so I can’t explain that , but the queen had laid away from the staples (silly girl ). Timing seemed a bit off too . Too quick from eggs to queen to emerging brood . Then.... on the next frame was the old queen . Green dot . She was new in November . She was promptly released from duties and the bees got banged out and the hive taken home . This is the second time I’ve seen wax moth under staples and proof , in my mind , the staples need contact with the brood . That said , I did not check for varroa so perhaps the DWV was being transmitted another way. ( Still can’t fathom where the DWV bees came from with the absence of worker brood ). I’m also seeing more shiny bees than I would like to (CPBV) so my guess is that OA has no part in controlling that particular virus

What are you treating with and when did it go in ? Patchy brood is not a sign of AFB in itself , but it is a sign of something - failing queen , varroa , shortage of protein . Roping is AFB and the brood can be patchy , but certainly not always

That’s a complicated question which will have a different answer from whoever you ask . Perception and realism are very very different things . Im going to liken it to putting beehives right next to the road . Not the best idea

I have to agree with you there. That cow race , although well constructed, is exactly in the wrong place and not a good look for the public to be staring straight at

@Josh, best info ever👍 I 100% agree ✅

Please go to this thread

Any number of us here will help you out if you stick around and learn 😉😊

There is nothing wrong with your gear. The next best advice you will ever hear is stay away from Trademe for bees. You are right at the beginning of an exciting journey , and you've come to the right place for help and to learn. Spend the winter learning about beekeeping so you are ready in about November for a good nuc.They are not hard to come by from good beekeepers, of whom you will find if you stick around here. We've all made mistakes . There is nothing wrong with that . Learn, and don't repeat them . I'm impressed enough that you observed and recognised something was wrong Welcome 😊

It's always hard to know if someone is taking the piss or they are a genuine nubee looking for help . I err on the side of help, initially , till I know different , until I know otherwise.

It said Auckland before..

I doubt it. The timing is all out, that's all. The syrup will be attracting heaps of robbers, which can easily be mistaken for a swarm by a beginner , and swarms need requeening . It makes sense if you have learned from the wrong source.

Oh heck . No, you can’t start a colony of bees with scout /robber bees and a queen . At the very least you need your start with a very strong Nuc, but not this time of the year.

No it’s not normal. Something is wrong .