Comments for Beekeeping in Varina, Virginia

Comment on First Full Inspections of the Year by Jones Tyler

Jones Tyler — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 10:00:00 +0000

For what it’s worth, I’m used to seeing drones on the comb on March 7. Our weather this year has been very much out of whack – we really didn’t get a Winter this year.

Comment on First Full Inspections of the Year by Emily

Emily — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 09:49:44 +0000

Wow, your drones come early. We don’t expect ours in London till April. But looking at your temperatures I can see why. Glad the inspections went well.

Comment on Bee Rescue in February by Rob Wokaty

Rob Wokaty — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:36:09 +0000

I’ve done several extractions from houses, and my last one in 2011 was this tree from a park in south Richmond. I makes me nervous to see that log on its side. Queen may or may not be dead, but they won’t be able to mate and raise a new one at this time of year. Regardless, the big issue in these trees is beetles. The comb gets crushed, one on top of another. When that happens, the bees can’t get in between the comb and root out the beetles. The beetles can get in really tight spaces, then the beetle larva do their dirty work. As soon as possible, they need to go in that tree and make sure there is bee space between the comb, and if any fell to the bottom, to pull it out of the tree and set it in a place the bees can rob. Otherwise, hive beetles will destroy the honey and eventually drive the bees out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XYCd0QGcfI is what it can look like.

Comment on Bee Rescue in February by Doug Ladd

Doug Ladd — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 18:49:17 +0000

They had pickup trucks, trailers, rachet straps, chainsaws, and duct tape in the old days?

I thought they had mules, hay wagons, bow saws, and burlap…

Im so confused… Wait i have bees i should be confused…

Glad to see the season pulling together!

Comment on First Log Entries of the Year by Jones Tyler

Jones Tyler — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 04:16:23 +0000

I have also heard folks worrying about our weather, but it is focused moreso on the possibility that all this flying around (instead of being in a cluster) makes them eat more. So, there is a concern that the bees will run out of food before the first Spring plants begin to bloom. I have no opinion on this yet, as I am still observing (but, I am watchful, thanks to their warnings!)

I have been out in my hives, even breaking frames (something I do not recommend in Jan for the new beekeeper) to see what was going on. As of a week or so ago, everyone (that I checked) looked good and all hives had a decent weight.

But, the key will be late February. That’s the time to check. A ton of bees starve in late Feb in our area (Zone 7), when the ramp up is really kicking in.

Comment on First Log Entries of the Year by Emily

Emily — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 21:35:08 +0000

We’re most often in the low to mid 50′s at the moment here in London, UK. The bees are out collecting pollen now.

I’ve heard some beekeepers say they want their colonies to stay in and conserve their energy and food reserves at this time of year rather than start foraging. Personally I’m not sure whether staying in or out is best for the bees. They can only fly a maximum of 800km in total before the glycogen reserves in their muscles run out, so flying more does shorten their lifespan, but if the queen is laying strongly early on in the year maybe that doesn’t matter so much. Either way I think it’s a good idea to keep an eye on their stores and feed if necessary.

Comment on MegaBee Disaster Barely Averted by 1oledbeekeekper

1oledbeekeekper — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 19:04:28 +0000

You obviously used it wrong.
I have used it in syrup, patties and also
dry. Had no problems and brood increased
within days of applying it.
If bees are drowning you need to modify
the feeders to prevent them from entering the syrup. Floats or wire can cure a drowning problem.

By the way there are complete mixing instructions on the internet. Just enter
the words Megabee Mixing Instructions.

Comment on Great VSBA Fall Meeting by Jones Tyler

Jones Tyler — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 02:37:44 +0000

Your post has me wondering if I have ever tried to feed a strong hive – I may have only tried to feed the weaker ones in the hopes of helping them get going. Of course, weak = poor defense against SHB. Thinking about your words, I am definitely going to try some patties next fall on a couple of test hives (that are strong).

Comment on Great VSBA Fall Meeting by Doug Ladd

Doug Ladd — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 00:32:27 +0000

glad to hear fall protien feeding is being discussed. As you know i am a firm believer in the power of the pollen pattie (or whatever you want to call it)… i have spent hundreds on these and glad others see it worthwhile.

You have SHB so its a bit different, but based on what i have seen in the previous years in the differences between my hives and others who dont feed i will continue even when SHB hits me…

I dont spend the time on making my own… tried it and its too time consuming, i woudl buy a concrete mixer if i planed to do it again…

For the time being i will use Mann Lakes Bee Pro patties or Dadant’s Mega Bee, both of which i have used successfully.

A full size hive can consume a lb patty placed in the brood nest (not on top) but between the boxes, paper and all within 7 days, most likely within 4-5 if not less…

I doubt you will have SHB problems in the center of the brood nest… i just place the patty bwteen my knees, pop the top box and slide the patty in and go to the next one…

I also use patty consumption as a tell tale sign of a failing hive… when a hive that should be consuming a lb in 7 days is not and still has some left i know they dont have enough larva to feed, since nurse bees are the only ones who consume pattys… they only eat the pattys when feeding larva… it was a great tool for early problem finding without doing inspections all the time this year… saved a ton of time…

Comment on Secret Protein Recipe by Dave Mendes by Great VSBA Fall Meeting | Beekeeping in Varina, Virginia

Great VSBA Fall Meeting | Beekeeping in Varina, Virginia — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 15:33:24 +0000

[...] Secret Protein Recipe by Dave Mendes [...]