Varora inspection

Yesterday I pulled the bottom board from the nasty hive and with a magnifying glass, searched for the dreaded Varora mite.  I had been expecting to find some evidence as the reason for all my hive disappearing.
After a careful search I found only a few dead mites, not as many as I would have thought to kill off the hive. It was the first time that there was evidence of a mite problem as I had systematically inspected all summer and had found no evidence they existed in my colonies.  I did use screened bottom boards to help stem the problem anyway.  I guess this year I will switch to a resistant queen, probably a Minnesota hybrid, and do a much better job monitoring and following the instructions from the attached video.  Watch it, its very informative.  Later

http://entnemdept.ifas.ufl.edu/afbee/resources/VarroaMites.shtml

Third hive gone

Warm out the other day so I lifted the lid on the last hive and found that only a handful of dead bees were left.  Lots of honey and pollen inside.  This hive had been re-queened this spring too.  It was active right up to the last bad freeze   Have no idea where they all went, kind of sad.  I guess we'll have to see how the new batch does when they come this spring.  Spoke to another bee keeper from up in Ithaca and he says they have lost over 100 hives so far.  He says he's never seen it this bad.  Will have to monitor for mites more closely and treat just before winter.   Later

TBH inspection

Today I opened the TBH and found that the bees had deserted, only a handful left and dead.  Just like the nasty hive.  I am now wondering about the third hive, but its to cold right now to open it.  There was plenty of honey in the TBH so it must have been CCD or a high mite count.  My mite testing for the other hive came up negative though, so not sure just what it was.  Could not find bees anywhere, they must all have left during the last warm spell.

I ordered 2 new packages from Better Bees from upstate NY, hope I get better service than the last year from White Oak.

Got some nice comb honey, but because of the cold, and the thick honey, I'm having trouble filtering it out.  May take a couple of days.  Later

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Two hives gone

Last week we had some brutally cold weather and I lost my TBH and the nasty hive.  Both had enough honey to last so not sure what happened to the TBH.

The nasty hive has been dwindling and when I checked this morning (60 deg.), there were only about a hundred bees left, all dead of course.  So I began processing the honey, probably about 15 lbs.  Haven't opened the TBH all the way yet so I don't have a clue as to how much is in there.  The last hive which I keep in the shed with an exit hole to the outside, is strong and active today in the warm weather.  Gave them some of the honey comb from the nasty hive, which I think they appreciated.  I think that hive will do fine for the rest of the winter.  Lets hope anyway.   Later

Happy New Year

Happy New Year:  Well I guess the world didn't end on the 21st so I'm back to caring for the bees. Today its 55 degrees but foggy and damp.  Gave the bees some fondant (cooked sugar water with an added bonus of Honey-B-Healthy), which I have been doing all fall as none of the hives I feel have enough stores for the full winter.  Took the nasty hive into the basement as I thought they were much to small a colony to survive outside.  Another of my mistakes, as they somehow found an exit from the hive and filled the basement with bees.  Got most back and then took them back outside for the duration.  As of today I still have all three hives alive but we have a severe cold snap coming so we'll see how the do.

On another note, the Japanese Plum that I bought is filled out with buds, so I may see it blossom this year.  I didn't expect that, so that's a plus.  It blooms in late February so will be a big boon for the bees, just as they need the extra energy.  I lost the big Silver Maple to Super-storm Sandy and that's been taking up most of my time, at the rate my wood pile is expanding I think I'll have enough wood for the next 10-15 years or so.  Its 5' through at the trunk, still not sure how I can cut it up, maybe make slabs for table tops or something.  I lost my Pussy Willow last year also so that's another tree to replace, this time it going into the back yard where it's wetter.  All in all I lost 4 trees to the storm, plus 2 of my hand made canoes and my truck camper.  Meeting the adjuster here tomorrow, as I didn't like the check they sent.

Have to get some more Cedar and get busy and make more hives.  If I get a couple swarms I will put a complete package up for sale.

Later, 

Happy Thanksgiving

Beautiful fall day and the bees are busy.  54 degrees out and they are even bringing in pollen, from who knows where.  Fed them syrup this morning and they are going at it like they are starving, one hive is to be sure.  Busy chopping up the tree I lost, looks like a lot of work.  Filled my wood shed almost to the top and I am not even started on the big tree yet.  Luckily the NYDS is hauling off the tree branches for me, that saves some $s.  Off to eat.  Later