Winter is coming. The ladies are still gathering pollen, especially the dusky persimmon colored type. They waddle bowlegged into the hive with saddlebags of it. Their sister bring in skinny leggings of yellow pollen from the last of the Spanish needles and goldenrod.
The first freeze is expected tonight. Happy Chanukah.
I've been sliding the hive along the track about 6-10 inches every few days. The rule on moving hives: Less than three feet or more than three miles. This direction takes the hive closer to the lake and out from under the overhang of oak boughs. There will still be some protection from the brutal summer sun but only once the late, late afternoon arrives and the graceful wax myrtle to the west spreads its sheltering shade. The hive has been moving very slowing on parallel tracks of two-by-fours toward the open sun. This should help keep them warmer during the winter. It's the strategy to keep the small hive beetles under control next spring.
My days have been busy. I haven't weighed the hive in two weeks. There is still lots of daily activity on the landing board, and I'm continuing to use the feeder.The last of the thinner syrup disappeared during two recent overcast days. Did being in the hive make them hungrier? Today I started giving them double strength syrup (four pounds to four cups).
The color variations that I had noticed were explained: A new queen is fertilized on her maiden flights by multiple drones. Their sperm is stored and then later released over a period of time. This will result in sibling brood having different patterns/coloration. No need to worry that other bees have come into the hive . . .at least not in the number that was showing up.
From all outward appearances, the hive is happy and queen right. I'll wait to the weekend to weigh and look inside. That will probably be one of the last for a while, barring any unforeseen problems during the winter.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Freezing, dehydrating, disinfecting. Waiting
So while the remaining hive continues to prosper. . .I hope, and you can read about its progress on the "Bee Journal by Visit" page, this page is about what else is going on.
I drown the hive and then realized that the comb is probably pretty hydroscopic. How was I going to get the water out, since I didn't have a good outdoor or airy location for the 10 frames each from the honey super and brood box. Besides, each set of frames were very different.
After the drowning, I froze the brood box and frames for two days. Took them out and used the convection/dehydrate mode on the oven. The first and oldest set of frames, I could only fit five at a time in the oven, were in there overnight. About 12 hours at 100 degrees. It worked somewhat, but there seemed to be some mold over a couple of cells. I processed the other five frames at 110.
I took both sets out, set them on plastic sheeting and made sure there was air space all around. I left them in a room with the ceiling fan set to low to keep the air moving.
That was two weeks ago. The frames seem to have dried out, and there was no additional growth of the mold.
This weekend, I processed the honey super frames - five at a time in a 110 dehydration oven for 10-12 hours for each batch of frames. None of these frames had any mold on them. The wax was much more brittle and delicate when I took it out of the freezer. These were all "new" wax which flaked off when jarred. This made it a bit messier than the older frames, but I was able to collect it in a small pile and then because it is a little sticky or adhesive, it was easy to gather up the random flakes on the kitchen counter.
I read about using glacial acetic acid to disinfect frames. This is used in England. 5% acetic acid is vinegar. Ear medicine is available at 8%. Since swimmer's ear is cured with half alcohol half vinegar I thought, perhaps that will work!
I mixed up a batch and sprayed it on the offending areas of the older brood comb. It seems to be working. I won't be using this again until the spring so there's a number of months for the comb to air out before it will be used again.
Right now all 20 frames are stacked criss-crossed so that air circulates on all size in the room with the fan turning.
There is a very nice scent that comes from the frames, especially since this is a room that kept closed most of the time. Right after spraying with the vinegar/alcohol mix that was the primary scent, but within one day it had almost faded totally.
I drown the hive and then realized that the comb is probably pretty hydroscopic. How was I going to get the water out, since I didn't have a good outdoor or airy location for the 10 frames each from the honey super and brood box. Besides, each set of frames were very different.
After the drowning, I froze the brood box and frames for two days. Took them out and used the convection/dehydrate mode on the oven. The first and oldest set of frames, I could only fit five at a time in the oven, were in there overnight. About 12 hours at 100 degrees. It worked somewhat, but there seemed to be some mold over a couple of cells. I processed the other five frames at 110.
I took both sets out, set them on plastic sheeting and made sure there was air space all around. I left them in a room with the ceiling fan set to low to keep the air moving.
That was two weeks ago. The frames seem to have dried out, and there was no additional growth of the mold.
This weekend, I processed the honey super frames - five at a time in a 110 dehydration oven for 10-12 hours for each batch of frames. None of these frames had any mold on them. The wax was much more brittle and delicate when I took it out of the freezer. These were all "new" wax which flaked off when jarred. This made it a bit messier than the older frames, but I was able to collect it in a small pile and then because it is a little sticky or adhesive, it was easy to gather up the random flakes on the kitchen counter.
I read about using glacial acetic acid to disinfect frames. This is used in England. 5% acetic acid is vinegar. Ear medicine is available at 8%. Since swimmer's ear is cured with half alcohol half vinegar I thought, perhaps that will work!
I mixed up a batch and sprayed it on the offending areas of the older brood comb. It seems to be working. I won't be using this again until the spring so there's a number of months for the comb to air out before it will be used again.
Right now all 20 frames are stacked criss-crossed so that air circulates on all size in the room with the fan turning.
There is a very nice scent that comes from the frames, especially since this is a room that kept closed most of the time. Right after spraying with the vinegar/alcohol mix that was the primary scent, but within one day it had almost faded totally.
Monday, October 25, 2010
After the drowning
Last Sunday, I drown the south hive.
The bees had absconded and the robbers had taken 30 pounds. There were many small larvae present, but not hiding from the light. They were most likely SHB larvae, but there were a few wax moth larvae present as well.
After submerging the frames (brood and super) in water for 30+ minutes. I rinsed with the garden hose and pressure nozzle taking off lots of debris, pollen, weak wax etc. One especially stubborn large larvae had swum around for quite a while before diving back into the water and wriggling into a comb. I took a bit of pleasure in blasting him out of his hidin'hole and squishing him. I didn't feel the drowning was enough, so I froze the brood box in the deep freeze. I left the super in garage for the two days until I switched them out. The super is still in the freezer. This is because when I took the brood box out I decided the garage was warm enough and dry enough for any additional water to be evaporated. That was Thursday night.
By Saturday morning I noticed some white mold on the outside of some of the comb. I followed the advice and put the frames out into the sunshine and open air. Some bees found the frames, but not many. Perhaps the bleach scent was still there and kept them away.
The structure of the comb is not conducive for evaporation without help -- that's why the ladies spend so much time fanning in the hive, I guess. So Sunday, it occurred to me, if I wanted to really make sure that any thing and everything was dead: larvae, beetles, and now the mold, why not just dehydrate the boxes and frames.
The melting point of bees was is 140. It get "friable" or crumbly at about 120. I'm now dehydrating five frame in a convection over set to 100 degrees, with door propped open. I'll leave it over night -- the usual dehydration time for vegetables, apples and the like. I'm using the oldest frames and ones that I'll be OK if this doesn't work and I have to destroy them . . that is if this doesn't do that anyway.
The bees had absconded and the robbers had taken 30 pounds. There were many small larvae present, but not hiding from the light. They were most likely SHB larvae, but there were a few wax moth larvae present as well.After submerging the frames (brood and super) in water for 30+ minutes. I rinsed with the garden hose and pressure nozzle taking off lots of debris, pollen, weak wax etc. One especially stubborn large larvae had swum around for quite a while before diving back into the water and wriggling into a comb. I took a bit of pleasure in blasting him out of his hidin'hole and squishing him. I didn't feel the drowning was enough, so I froze the brood box in the deep freeze. I left the super in garage for the two days until I switched them out. The super is still in the freezer. This is because when I took the brood box out I decided the garage was warm enough and dry enough for any additional water to be evaporated. That was Thursday night.
By Saturday morning I noticed some white mold on the outside of some of the comb. I followed the advice and put the frames out into the sunshine and open air. Some bees found the frames, but not many. Perhaps the bleach scent was still there and kept them away.
The structure of the comb is not conducive for evaporation without help -- that's why the ladies spend so much time fanning in the hive, I guess. So Sunday, it occurred to me, if I wanted to really make sure that any thing and everything was dead: larvae, beetles, and now the mold, why not just dehydrate the boxes and frames.
The melting point of bees was is 140. It get "friable" or crumbly at about 120. I'm now dehydrating five frame in a convection over set to 100 degrees, with door propped open. I'll leave it over night -- the usual dehydration time for vegetables, apples and the like. I'm using the oldest frames and ones that I'll be OK if this doesn't work and I have to destroy them . . that is if this doesn't do that anyway.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
It begins with death
I wanted to start when I got the new hives. They were a birthday present to myself. I had seen a notice at Panera's on the Friday before by birthday announcing the Apalachee Beekeepers Association's "Hobby Beekeepers Short Course." That was back in February. I was enthusiastic. We both took the course on the 27th. It was great. Just enough to make me curious and enough to make me want my own hives - yes, plural. The advice was to start with two so that you can watch how they are similar and how they are different. I followed that advice.
I ordered two kits, built out two sets of brood boxes and supers. Got the average beekeepers kit: gloves, smoker, hat and veil, hive tool, brush. Over the past few months I've learned a lot. I recommend anyone interested in gardening or in bees to try this hobby. I had thought that I would blog about this experience, starting in the very beginning. But, time got away. Intentions were good. Life got in the way. I'm starting the blog today, October 17, 2010 not as I had intended with the birth of my ladies, but with death.
I drown the South hive today.
I ordered two kits, built out two sets of brood boxes and supers. Got the average beekeepers kit: gloves, smoker, hat and veil, hive tool, brush. Over the past few months I've learned a lot. I recommend anyone interested in gardening or in bees to try this hobby. I had thought that I would blog about this experience, starting in the very beginning. But, time got away. Intentions were good. Life got in the way. I'm starting the blog today, October 17, 2010 not as I had intended with the birth of my ladies, but with death.
I drown the South hive today.
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