Archive for April, 2011

Hive One Inspection

Saturday, April 30th, 2011

I opened hive one today and removed frame feeder that was installed 10 days ago.  Feeder was still 1/2 full with syrup.  Noticed alot of activity in front of hive with 20 or so bees at the top hive body handle.

Frames in upper hive body F  have all been built out with wax.

Removed Apiguard tin which was still full of medicine.

Entrance guard remains on hive

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Hive Two Inspection

Saturday, April 30th, 2011

I removed the top feeder with the following observations:

  • feeder was dry of syrup
  • A carpenter ant nest had moved in 100s of ant winged and unwinged in the black basen
  • Hive bees agitated beneath the screen

Removed the feeder nocking ants to the ground.  Replaced with Queen excluder and two honey supers (C & D).  Honey super C has no built up wax and is closest to the hive bodies.  Honey super D was harvested from last year and has wax, it is the top most super.

Removed empty tin of  Apiguard from hive.

Hive looked healthy, with minimal activity at entrance

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March Bee Activities

Monday, April 18th, 2011

Last week of March Feed with internal feeder, treat for Nosema (fumagillin)

  • Frame feeder in Hive One (Empty frames that can be removed)
  • Mann Lake Top Feeder in Hive Two (tape down screen edges with duct tape, put window insulation around top to prevent robbing)

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Hive Two April Opening

Sunday, April 17th, 2011

 

Activities

  • Cleaned out bottom board
  • removed insulation board from outer cover
  • swapped brood hives B is now on the top have D is now on the bottom
  • removed mouse guard
  • feed bees with top feeder 1/2 gallon 1:1 sugar syrup w/ 1/2 tsp fumagillin-b
  • treated for mites with 1 tin Apiguard

Observations

  • Bees in all frames or both brood hives
  • bee larva ready to hatch in between brood hives
  • lots of activity with entrances primarily to propped top entrance
  • saw hive beetle on one larva
  • propilis and dead bees on screened bottom board

Thoughts

  • removed mouse guard as bees were not using as an entrance
  • consider feeding 1/2 gallon more food in 5 days
  • remove Apiguard tin and put on both honey supers in 10 days

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Hive One April Opening

Sunday, April 17th, 2011

Activities

  • removed tar paper and insulation board on outer cover
  • Cleaned out Brood nest and inner cover of old pollen patty and sure candy
  • removed mouse nest in landing board, no mice
  • removed dead bees from bottom board
  • installed slatted rack above bottom board and below brood hive F
  • swapped broods nests A now on the top F is on the bottom
  • removed 2 unpopulated frames from hive A, inserted in 2  frame plastic  feeder w/ 0.5 Gallon 1:1 Sugar Syrup 1/2 tsp fumagillin-b
  • placed 1 tin of Apiguard mite treatment in on top of hive

Observations

  • Brood Hive Body F has 5 frames worth of Bees
  • Br0od Hive Body A has 3 frames worth of bees
  • Bees clearly lade with pollen entering the hive
  • remains of a mouse nest in landing board

Thoughts

  • Remove landing board next fall to discourage mouse visits
  • Feeding should have taken place 2-3 weeks earlier (consider last week in May)
  • Hive One is week consider re-queening this Fall

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