We have a few bees in the blue hive. The inspection there is very promising. I'd say 50,000-60,000. I estimate the top brood box to weigh 70 lbs of so. We enjoyed two teaspoons of honey off one frame overloaded on the end. Now to silence my ringer for "Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade" at Ronnie's 20.
Have a wonderful afternoon!
Well the HarpHives have suffered another setback. I discovered the queen was gone on Thursday in the yellow hive, probably killed. I also found these emergency queen cups with larvae in royal jelly. I met with the beekeepers helping me on Friday to see what my best course of action is. I'm now on the list for the St Louis Beekeepers Sustainable Queen rearing program. My hive is trying to produce their own but I want to get new genetics. Two steps forward one back.
The hive inspection did not go well. More bees are being born but the queen doesn't appear to be laying eggs, brood patterns are spotty. I'm stopping by the bee supply store to buy frames and foundations. We're going to try moving them to a completely fresh setup to see if it helps. A new queen might be in order as well, I'm going to consult some of the other beekeepers first.
The massive bee deaths have finally stopped! I'll have to wait and see if there's any long term effects or if the foragers were sprayed and died without too much contamination of the hive. I've been seeing orientation flights all day, even with the rain. Tomorrow I'm going in to reorganize the colony to make it easier to maintain a good cluster around the brood in one box and store their supplies in the other. Maybe they'll pull through.
Have a great evening! đđđŧ
I was fortunate enough to secure some locally sourced 100% raw pollen to try and help my impacted bee colony. We sprinkled some on the frame tops tonight, and I'm going to make my own pollen patty this weekend. I'm going all out trying to save my queen, nurse bees and brood. I'm pretty sure most of my foragers were collateral damage in a mosquito killing campaign by the city.
On happier news, I've booked a hotel, my daughter and I are heading to Gatlinburg, TN.
I received word back from the local beekeepers I'm learning from and the prognosis isn't good. My one hive has most likely encountered Sevin dust and are dying. So far it mostly the foragers but it will eventually spread because of contaminated pollen and nectar being used to feed and raise new bees. My only course of action is to replace all my frames and foundations then shake the living bees into it. Then destroy the old frames.
My 1st year has been stressful.
Something is killing a large number of bees in my yellow hive. They were doing great yesterday then today there's a carpet of dead bees. From the symptoms I suspect it's pesticide poisoning. There's nothing I can do and it's really bumming me out. âšī¸
I tasted a bit of honey out of one of my hives today, it was delicious! A wildflower and clover blend. While scraping some burr comb away I uncapped some cells and figured why not have a bit. So I dipped my hive tool in and Melissa and I both had some. Between that and a zero count on my varroa mite tests it was a good beekeeping day. (I know mites are present but apparently with low numbers.)
Have a wonderful rest of the weekend! Now I'm going to play with rats. đđ
Get dressed. Wear your special Sunday Suit, @That_One_Guy
FREE BEES #FreeTheBees
You're going to need a few more #HarpHives
Millions of #honeybees loose after truck overturns near B.C.-Wash. border
More than 2 dozen local beekeepers, along with emergency workers, responded to scene
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/honeybee-truck-overturn-bellingham-1.7549211?cmp=rss
My varroa mite testing jar came today. I'll be attempting my 1st check during Sunday's inspections. Dirty little creatures. I'm using the sugar shake instead of an alcohol wash. I hate killing my bees, even for a good cause.
On a sunnier subject, TGIF! I hope you all survived the week in one piece. It was touch and go for me a couple of times. Work picking back up made everyone irritable.
Well I smell dinner so I'd better wash up. Have a wonderful evening! đ
I'm going to be testing my beehives for varroa mites next weekend. I probably should have started already but I've been busy with all of it so I'm getting started now. I have to get Melissa a jacket, veil, and gloves before proceeding, I think I might need help.
I felt successful after my small hive beetles win only to remember I'm just getting started. I feel like once I have a year or two under my belt I'll be comfortable but I'm currently feeling overwhelmed.
Hello friends, hope you've had a splendid Monday. Today was hive inspections and I'm happy to report everything is going great! Both hives are very strong and we've added the 1st honey box to the blue hive. The yellow hive is about a week or so behind. I believe it was the small hive beetles slowing them down and I'm thrilled to report that the asshole SHBs seem completely in check! Super happy about that. Now they can focus on their main tasks.
Have a wonderful evening!
Rush hour at the yellow hive.
Seven out of twelve raspberry plants have fruit growing on them. The bees are also doing well. We're probably a week or two from starting to collect honey. It's a relief to see our efforts "bearing fruit" in the literal and figurative sense. đ Melissa is currently washing a mix of a dozen radishes and beets. I love the beets but hate them radishes. Though they still find their way in to my salads. đ¤
Have a wonderful evening everyone! đ
A thirsty worker bee.
I got an email from the beekeeping supply store. They have nematodes in stock for natural pest control of small hive beetles. We're heading down now. I could use 2.5 million helpers in this battle. The cost is $25 but its all natural approach appeals to us.
I try not to share YouTube links, I know some people don't care for it's parent company. This video was to big to post here so I made it a short on YT.
It's a large number of bees coming and going from the hive. The video is in not sped up, they just move that fast. I shot this today around 4:30.
I caught 19 small hive beetles with this Swiffer pad. There were a few more in the jails. The only downside so far is one of the Swiffer pads I put in there is missing. My intention wasn't a full inspection so I replaced it and will look more extensively on Sunday during my routine inspections.
Hopefully this puts a dent in the assholes. It's bizarre that the blue hive only had one. The bees are more aggressive, might have something to do with it.
The yellow hive sure is hopping today. I'm about to go in for a little beetle check.
Hello everyone, how's it going? The hive inspections went well, the slatted racks were added, everything is filling out nicely and both queens looked well. Unfortunately the fucking small hive beetles aren't taking a hint and leaving the yellow hive so I'm adding more jails and some Swiffer pads.
We got my wife a piece of wind art for Mother's Day. All metal with ball bearings and 24" in diameter. We're also meeting her mom for the "Wizard of Oz" later.
