Beware ye old men, the day have come when women run faster. Like in the old days of the survival of farmers, when the women were the beekeepers. Well, anyway my niece (I treat her mother as my sister though
First Queen
Swarm draws foundationless combs
Larry, the excentric beekeeper in Indiana, shares with me many of his experiences. Here’s one I share with you readers: Friday afternoon, 23 May, I just happened to be present at the beginning of a prime swarm cast from my
Waxmoth with DWV?
When making splits yesterday I saw what looked like a bigger Wax moth with crippled wings. I moved like one too, trying to run away without flying. And this one couldn’t fly at all. Is it a bigger wax moth?
Taking home the breeder
A week ago I brought home the breeder queens for ease of grafting. They should at least have been treatment free last year (2013) and they should not have been a new colony 2013. The queen should be at least
Producing varroa resistant bees from a local population
Erickson and Hines in test apiary 2003 Dr Eric Erickson did a great job in the 1990’s in Arizona together with A.H. Atmowidjojo and Lenard Hines (commercial beekeeper with 700 colonies), first showing it’s relatively easy to identify more resistant
Swarm trap in April of May
Weather has turned to April when May arrived. Freezing nights and barely flying weather in days. But solar wax melter works, in the middle of the day. Though development of the bees have begun strong this spring. They have grown
Early flowers are coming early
Still wood anemones are beautiful and giving pollen, though bees are now more interested in other sources. This is an early season, really. And beautiful. Chilly frosty nights but nice and sunny days. Solar wax melter works. Dandelions are starting
Salix is valuable
Salix has many species around the world that are important for our pollinators in spring. Rich in nectar and valuable pollen. Willow trees have done most of their job for this year. They are not only loved by bees.
Tussilago farfara
Second day checking for increase after winter I now came to some apiaries inside my Elgon area and almost all colonies needed a super above the excluder. The weather had turned warm after winter and the colonies demanded me to
First increase, the first apiary
A couple of days ago I started for the new season, to check colonies for need of food and for increase of space for bees and brood. I want to give you some glimpses. I checked four apiaries that afternoon.