Ask me anything: Bees

[gavin]

You could scan them, post them here, and we'll rip them apart?! I almost miss 'discussing' things online with ol' BBM.

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[Jon]

He never had a DISCUSSION with anyone in his life.

[gavin]

Funny that. On the phone/Tapatalk the capitals look a bit odd. On the laptop (switched to Firefox and the line spacing issue is resolved) the full formatting is revealed and I can happily add:

[wee willy]

Funny that. On the phone/Tapatalk the capitals look a bit odd. On the laptop (switched to Firefox and the line spacing issue is resolved) the full formatting is revealed and I can happily add:

WW


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[The Drone Ranger]

He never had a DISCUSSION with anyone in his life.

Hi Jon
Read a page the other day that no chalkbrood indicates hygienic bees
I know you are looking for ways of identifying hygienic behavior
It's fairly obvious I suppose but apparently its a reliable indicator

I was exploring the possibility that early season chalkbrood might limit varroa expansion

[The Drone Ranger]

I could have posted here for suggestions on how to clean the thick tar layer out of my smoker
I probably could have googled it; but no I took a different route
Digging out the hot air stripper, I found I have two of these, goodness knows why I hate decorating
Now the clever(ish) part.
Using the hot air stripper I blast the inside until the tar catches fire
Fascinatingly as the air blows in it starts to resemble a blacksmiths forge
Sparks, fierce heat, flames etc
I keep going till all the combustible material has gone ,the smoker is glowing red hot and the remaining red slag can be turned out
By now I have noticed that the hole in the smoker bellows is on fire so I put it out (not too much damage)
For the first time I now look at the hot air stripper
All the plastic at the front has melted and it looks bleedin' 'orrible
So once again don't try this at home folks

[wee willy]

I use a blow torch ,no plastic bits to melt
I do this often to avoid the build up described!
VM


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[The Drone Ranger]

Thanks Willy
I have now bought a replacement gas canister for the plumbers blowtorch
I'm not sure why I have one of these I think I bought it to sterilise boxes and floors
I couldn't plumb to save my life

[prakel]

thought this would be interesting.

I'm not putting myself up as "the" expert. got a question about bees? it might be a wikipedia answer that you should take with a pinch of salt, but... Ask me (us) anything...

Hi Neil, another one for you.

Where do all the July and August prime swarms go because they don't seem to come my way (or try to leave my hives)? Thinking about this recently because I keep reading internet reports of July and August casts. Now, to my thinking the one presupposes the other; unless of course, a lot of these small swarms late in the season are something other than casts...

[madasafish]

Twice in the last month I have looked up to see an adult and a small child from the nearby allotments leaning over the association apiary fence watching me while I do some hive manipulation.
The bees are quiet but watching from 10 feet away without protection is stupid.
When asked to move away, they start some bull about how bees are fascinating end endangered and they wanted the child to be able to see the beekeeper working with bees.

I actually had to point out that there is a reason why beekeepers use veils.
Candidates for Darwin awards.

Nope..
Bees SHOULD be docile... see German beekeeping videos..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EOgCHl_5ko