dansar

Reducing hive numbers within an operation could be as simple as combining colonies. Removing one of the queens or run them as 2 queen hives, why not you have half the number of hives now. Unfortunately auditing of extraction sheds won’t reduce in cost or frequency. Running a vehicle won’t get any cheaper. Spend a day with staff or the other half to find where you can save time and money within your businesses. “Lean Manufacturing”, look in to it, it really works and it’s amazing how and where you can save time and money.

You are correct on the colour. I notice bees collecting pollen from it more around late June and in to July over here in Putaruru. It is showing flower now but not producing as far as I can tell. It can be a problem with days being changeable weather wise. Bees can leave the hive in a period of warm weather but chill when it clouds over then not making it home this can lead to brood that is being raised on the outer edges of the colony being chilled as the bees cluster during the still, cold nights.

Some hives that quite likely have sick bees do have a sudden depopulation. Using a synthetic treatment probably wouldn’t affect sick bees too much as the synthetics are approximately 1000 x more toxic to the mite rather the the bee. Oxalic I am guessing is closer to a bees threshold for toxic (organic and sythetic) exposure.

Nice. You’ll regret having a full tank sitting on that side of the deck. For a better distribution of weight you should be able to fit the tank and pump across the headboard of the deck even without a frame to mount the motor on.

It’s unlikely to work this time of year as the wasps are not actively looking for protein. Have you tried using it earlier in the season?

About 500ml of 2:1 every week. I also started with about a 8th of a Mega Pattie and added a new one as and when it was fully consumed. Patty size increased as the colony got bigger. Do a internet search for Manley Solution. I used that at the higher dosage rate in the syrup.

They love hibernating under hive lids. So do the common lady birds. It’s amazing where they can squeeze in to.

Yes they do eat the GWA Yes in swarm of beetles

Thay flied thear.

If the wasps are plaguing you then they will be a nuisance to many more properties. i had a similar problem at home last year. Initially I tried following the wasps to their nest location through neighboring properties and upon talking to our neighbors they too were being affected by the wasps. I couldn’t find the nest to used vespex. Two days after setting out the bait there were no more wasps Bees and Beekeeper happy, surrounding neighbourhood happy. No mucking around with wasp guards and knowing the problem won’t go away. I built up a few 2 frame nucs over winter to be full 10 frame colonies by spring.

If still in doubt buy a AFB test or send bees away for sampling, or as you say...take the pragmatic approach. FYI I shook out a drone laying hive today. So if your hive only a dud queen you could use the remaining workers to boost another colony.

Last lot of staples I put in hives had an amount of crystallised Oxalic on them. It doesn’t seem to have affected the bees. It definitely kills varroa though.

Site visit today. It’s been a month since I looked in on these girls. 2 months with staples in. All 20 hives looking healthy with good populations and heaps of Kai for winter.

I like the beach life. With sea levels rising I am glad I bought in Putaruru, not much longer until I Have a beach front property 🤪🤣

Yes the strips can kill brood directly under them when first placed in the hive. I have seen this happen although after a period of time I have inspected the brood frames and have found the queen happily laying eggs under a strip and healthy developing larvae, pupae in surround cells. My advise is not to worry about it as it is a minor or temporary side effect. Do be careful when placing strips that the queen isn’t caught underneath, that same advise applies to synthetic strips too.