Waxmoth Invasion

Last year I struggled with small hive beetles. This year it's waxmoths.

Everything had been going just fine, I was feeding my bees, I had medicated the syrup, I had fumigated for mites.  Every time I'd checked things had appeared healthy.  And today when I went into one of the hives I saw complete chaos.  My hive had turned into breeding grounds for waxmoth larvae. 

Waxmoth webs

They tunnel through the comb and defecate, essentially destroying it.  They had spun their coccoons in the comb, around the comb, on the comb and in small crevices between frames.

Bees can generally clean up the comb but the frames have to be frozen to kill the larvae.  That meant I had to freeze 16 of the frames that may have potential re-use value.  The remaining 8 will just sit in a plastic bag through the winter. 

What does all this mean?   I had to dismantle the entire hive.  And I hope that since it's queenless (there was no brood of any kind) that they will assimilate into the other hive because they won't have queen pheromone on them.  I'm crossing my fingers here, there were a lot of homeless bees. 

newly homeless bees, about 1/3 of what was in the dismantled hive

hive check : fumigillan and apigard

At our monthly beekeeping meeting last night I learned that I should have been controlling mites since July. 

I also learned that I need to be feeding 2:1 along with pollen.  I'm feeding syrup but need to quickly order some pollen patties.  My hunch is that the bees I lost last year died because, althought I had fed syrup in the fall, I had not supplemented with pollen. 

In my hive on the left there were drone brood.  This is good.  If the hive was not able to support these warm bodies there wouldn't be any.  Essentially, if there's not enough resources to go around there will be no drone brood laid to further reduce already low stores.  With the discovery of drone brood I can assume, at least for the time being, that this hive is in balance.

My hive on the right looked good, although I completely forgot to look for brood, capped or otherwise. 

There has been no evidence of small hive beetles in my hives this year much to my relief.  I have one trap in each hive and there's never been anything in either.  I have also not seen any wax moths. 

I purchased shims this year to help with baggie feeding, shims being about an inch of headroom on top of a super to allow for placement of baggies of syrup. 


All things considered I am certain that this method of feeding has helped eliminate hive beetles.  With a top (trough style) feeder the beetles have bzillions of points of entry to the syrup.  Baggies I place in my hive have a slit about two inches at the most in them, greatly reducing the points of entry. 

In retrospect maybe the nematodes I applied to the area surrounding my hives also helped.

Despite not having done a lot with my bees this year I feel pretty good about the approaching winter.  But that's what I said last year and I lost both hives.

Keep your fingers crossed!

Hive Check : robbing the nuc

Someone just got caught with their hand in the honey pot.

The bees I saw flying into and around the nuc were robbing the full frame of honey.  No swarms took up residence in that palace.

Hive A looks like it's numbers are down.  There wasn't much in the way of capped brood.  I saw an Emergency Queen Cell.  Damn.  This means that the hive has no Queen and needs one as soon as possible.  I am certain that this hive swarmed. 

Hive B looked pretty full, but there wasn't an overabundance of capped brood here either.  I can't tell if they swarmed and I'm so hesitant to look for the Queen because disruptions raise the chances that she'll be killed when I move frames and boxes around. 

I swear if I lose my hives this year I'm going to give up.

a fun swarm story - with pictures!!

Monday we were supposed to run errands, like buying plants and finding toad houses. Fun stuff. Instead we tried to catch a swarm of bees that had perched in a tree in the backyard. Also fun? Depends on how you define it.

I'd just come back from a run and sent Jamie off with a neighbor to the gun store, and I was outside checking on things. To my sheer amazement, I saw another swarm, the 9th of the season. I called and let him know that we needed to get some swarm catching gear from Lowes; a bucket with lid and 100 feet of rope. I'd be at home preparing 5 frames with foundation, making sugar water and finding a broom.

I'd tried making the nuc as attractive as possible by including a frame that had honey on it already.

We concluded that were going to hoist a bucket up to just underneath the large, undulating, buzzing mass of bees, spray them with sugar water to keep them busy/occupied/not angry, and coax them into a bucket and then dump them into an extra hive we have.

Most of you are probably thinking that catching a swarm sounds like a good time. I bet you'd want to try this just to say you'd tried it.

It was dangerous, the ladder could have slipped off the tree sending Jamie taking a nose dive and possibly breaking bones, or worse. It was tedious, you try holding a bucket over your head, while holding on to a ladder, while spraying bees with sugar water and sweeping them into the bucket, then putting on a lid. Without falling. It was thrilling, to have bees dropping from the swarm onto me because they didn't go into the bucket when they should have.

And you try doing it twice. Once to see how it works, and a second time to make the bees really, really angry.

After the first attempt the bees that were sprayed with sugar water that didn't make it into the bucket dropped to the ground and made little pfft and thud sounds. We dumped the bees into the nuc and Jamie volunteered to go back up to get more. Partly because we're greedy and want lots of bees. Partly because he didn't know if he'd gotten the Queen and we need the Queen in the nuc to keep the bees in the nuc.

Turns out that bees only tolerate the whole being swept into a bucket once. Jamie got stung on his forehead during the second try, the stinger was still attached when he came down off the ladder. I'd gotten stung on my left ear. Awesome. Don't make fun of me because I was standing under the ladder with no protective gear on, wearing a tank top and shorts. But do picture it, because it is pretty funny.

The bees didn't stay where we put them, they eventually vacated the building and went right back up to where they were before we risked life and limb. And they've since left our yard, too.

It was really cool, but you don't get to see more pictures because Jamie wanted me to hold the ladder and to "forget that damn camera".

I wish you all could have been here. Don't you?

Swarm of Bees : #6 of the season

Today at 8:15am when I got back from shopping I heard a commotion in the backyard.  I knew what it was before I went back there to take a peek, it was another swarm.  Or swarming activity.  Or maybe it was bored bees with nothing better to do than dart around quickly and poop on me, and then congregate on the hive.

The hive at 8:30am

The swarm was just coming down from the treetops when I got this picture.

The hive at 9:30am when I got home from the store.

.

Comb on the outside of the hive

This evening we enjoyed some dinner with our friends and neighbors, D and Robin. Jamie had gone back to the house to do some work on the garden and came back over to tell me that there was something going on with one of my hives. (the one that seemed to have a swarm underneath)
Donning my gear I took the hive apart.
For several days I didn't see much activity at the front of this particular hive. There is a crack at the rear which I know bees had been using for an entrance, but the activity at either of these entrances was too low to indicate that there were very many bees here. Looking at the beautiful comb I found on the bottom, outside the hive body I can see why there wasn't activity at the entrances.

I shook off the majority of the bees and set about determining the severity of the situation.

As I was looking at the comb that the bees built under the hive I spotted the Queen - thank God she was marked with her blue dot or I'd not have seen her. She was on the outside of the hive, and she'd been busy - I estimate that there were at least 25 capped brood cells and at least 100 uncapped larvae in several stages of growth. There was no way to save this larvae, so it's currently in our freezer so I can show it to our neighbor kids. Both Jamie and I were profoundly sad at the loss we experienced.  We did, however, really like seeing a full super of 8 frames of capped honey!

Once the comb was removed from the bottom board and the Queen was back in the hive I put it together and hoped I didn't squish the Queen (like I'm sure I did last year). I hope that this setback doesn't reduce the health or vitality of this hive. It would be a shame to lose another hive (that would make three).

I am thankful I didn't get stung and appreciated that I Jamie to help take pictures. Normally I have to do that by myself...and having someone around made everything so much easier!

Swarm of bees : #5 of the season

This is the fifth swarm we've had in our yard this year.  Number 4 was either just before or just after this one.  Jamie saw it, I didn't. He said it was high up in the trees and by the time he could call me to come out it was already moving on. 

Our friends Tom and BJ need a swarm and if one is withing a retrievable height I'm to call them right away.  Number 5 for the year was too high to retrieve.  

Jamie was the first to notice this swarm.  I really hope it's not any of my bees...but only because that would mean I'd have an unmarked Queen left in my hive and my marked Queen would be on her way to her new palace.

Swarm of bees : #3 of the season

We witnessed our third swarming activity today.  In terms of swarming, that's not really what these bees are doing, they're really just hanging out underneath this hive.  I'm not sure why.  Right now I'm not sure I care why...because it's really interesting.  If I had to guess, I'd venture to say that the Queen of either this or some other hive is in the middle of this ball of bees. 

Bees are a quirky bunch.  They never do what you'd expect them to do and they always seem to be up to something.  This year, as I have mentioned, I've been staying out of the hives.  My eagerness last year to be in there all the time led to some prett serious consequences. 

Most people don't want their bees to swarm.  Call me crazy, but I do.  I kind of like the fact I get to experience and witness some really interesting behavior.  And I get to document it so other people can learn without having to dress up in a white jacket and veil.

Adventure : C & O Canal

Six straight days of beautiful weather warranted an adventure - not that I don't love yardwork - but all work and no play makes Carlee a dull girl.  I've been dying to get out to the C&O Canal for a while, it's not too far a drive and it's somewhere I can take the dogs.

Today was Lady's turn to get out for some exercise.  Taking the dogs out for their exercise means I'm also getting mine, and Cancun is right around the corner.

The trailhead where I parked was being worked on and I took the path to the left of the construction area.  Not having visited this trail before I didn't know how close I would get to the Potomac - which wasn't all that close.  (Granted we only did a 15 minute run and turned around).  Stagnant water was abundant so whenever I stopped to let the dog rest we were dive bombed by mosquitos.  I forgot bug spray.  Again. 

There was a port-a-potty on the trail near a camping area, the first hiker-biker campsites begin in this section and the area is first come, first served.  Each camping area also his a water pump.  Although I didn't see anyone but another jogger, it seems that this trail is popular.

On our way back to the car, I found a very large feather. When I was a kid I remember that I used to collect feathers at my grandparent's property in Salem, Oregon, and was quite proud of my stash. I had to resist the urge to pick this one up and carry it like a child would carry cotton candy.

The path was not all that exciting or challenging and given I only did a short run here I know I missed some things, a ton of things actually.  There is quite a bit to see and quite a bit of history.  I am considering going to the Monocacy Aqueduct tomorrow. 

Something else that has me intrigued and interested is riding the entire 184 miles.  On a bike.  There are several options for those ambitious enough to do this trip.  I doubt Jamie would be too keen on me doing something like this, but I have to admit there is a small twinge of excitement just considering the idea.

I love the look of sheer bliss on Lady's face.

The swarm

So, I'm pretty sure that the bees we saw yesterday were a swarm that didn't originate from my apiary.  At 6:30 this morning when I left to go do my grocery shopping the bees were still there.  By 8am when I returned they were gone.  Looking into the hive they perched on overnight I saw that my hive was still full of bees, a much appreciated sight.  I added a third 8 frame medium super to it so they would have more room to expand.  This discourages swarming but we all know that Mother Nature rules and if they bees are going to swarm there is little, if anything, I can do about it.  Checking in on the other hive yielded similar results, they were doing fine as well. 

Both hives showed larvae at different stages and both capped and uncapped brood were present.  I did not hunt through all the frames in each hive for the Queen.  I am still gunshy from losing my Queens last year to do a lot of investigative work. 

I am going to be ordering more equipment for the two existing hives - more supers for honey, foundation for comb and frames to lay the foundation.  Additionally I will be ordering some equipment to have on hand in case I get a swarm fly by again this year.  I'd rather have to catch one just becuase it's there as opposed to having to catch one because one of my hives died.

Swarm of bees : #2 of the season

I haven't posted here this year because I haven't been in my hives that much.  I just know from last year that I was in the hives too often and probably messed things up by being so "proactive".  So I've been decidedly hands off this season, probably to the detriment of my hives.

Today one of two things happened.  1) My bees did a dry run swarm to the top of a 60 foot tree and then back to the hive.  2) A rogue swarm found my hive and decided to rest there while looking for a new palace for their queen.  After 12 hours, the bees are still there, and if they're still there in the morning I'm going to move them into a nuc until I can get more 8 frame mediums.

I have more pictures and video to post at a later time.  Right now I need to get to sleep so I can get up early and deal with this turn of events.

Hive Check : Crystallized fondant and angry bees

Yesterday it was so warm that the bees were out in force, but I wasn't able to get into the hive because I was out running errands.

It was warm today, although not as warm as yesterday, and I decided to check on my bees.  These bees have never seen me and my guess was they were going to be pretty fierce.  My smoker was at the ready in case I needed it.

The winter cluster is definitely in the top box.  The "fondant" I tried to make has crystallized.  And the bees were angry!

When I removed the fondant off the top of the box I was attacked by about 20 bees.  I didn't get stung, but it wasn't because they didn't try.  I had a puffy coat on underneath my bee jacket which probably really helped save me.  Those little buggers were really aggressive and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they get more relaxed as Springtime arrives/

I took the frames out of the freezer last night and put them on the hive today.  I have three frames of capped honey in the middle and two frames that are almost empty aside from some pollen.  I'm hoping the pollen that in the box is enough to stimulate the Queen to start laying when the time comes.  I'm told that she won't lay eggs if all there is to feed the bees is honey.  I'll keep you posted!

Hive Check : cleaning the dead out and freezing frames

Today is pretty cold so I couldn't do much with the surviving bees.  I did check to see if they were still alive, they are.  They had eaten some of the sugary-substance-that-should-have-been-fonant but not a lot.  I'm sure this has to do with the fondant being on top of the parchment instead of the other way around.  There were two dead bees on the fondant.  I didn't see any standing water but I am pretty sure that there is moisture being generated because some of the sugar was soft.  Another potential issue/problem is that the shim on the nuc doesn't fit flush with the box and I'm concerned about winds getting into the hive so I'm going to also have to check around to see what I can use to stop the gap between the shim and the top box. 

I inspected the dead out frames again and looked for, but didn't find, the queen. 

Finding frames with pollen turned out to be harder than I thought.  (the queen will only lay if there is natural pollen, sugar alone is not sufficient)  The two frames that I found with the most pollen were abesnt of any honey stores, capped or uncapped, and contained maybe 50 cells of pollen.  I put those two frames on the outside of my empty 5 frame nuc box and put three full frames of honey in the middle.  I'll have to check with my mentors to see if that's the right set up before I put this box on the nuc. 

It's recommended that beekeepers freeze frames for three to four days before putting them on a different hive.  I definitely don't want to set this hive back by putting on frames with any existing issues.  Sunday is supposed to be a nice day with temperatures in the 50's and that's the day I'll be putting on this "new" box. 

While the 5 frames are freezing I'm going to be making, or trying to make, more fondant.  At the meeting this past Monday it was suggested to me that after boiling the sugar to the right temperature that I use an ice bath, stir vigorously and then pour into molds.  Which reminds me, I am going to have to find molds around here somewhere. 

Hive Check : The dead out

The top box filled with 8 frames of nothing but honey

Part of the winter cluster

More dead bees

A great deal of bees were found with their entire bodies inserted into cells in the comb.

More dead bees.

The view inside the hive, this is the middle box looking down into the bottom box.

Bees in the comb.

All of the comb in the bottom box was empty of honey and pollen.

Comb from the bottom box

A bottom screen full of my dead bees.

A smidgen of pollen

A tragedy.

Hive Check : Feeding my winter bees

I made some fondant yesterday to feed my surviving hive.  It's a combination of suger, water, cream of tarter, Karo syrup and lemon juice.  I did everything like I was supposed to; measure, mix, boil, pour.  What I didn't do was spray the parchment paper with Pam (that's not in the directions, by the way).  This meant that the cooling fondant stuck to the parchment paper.  When I went to take the fondant off the parchment paper it stuck because it was sticky.  Everything I'd read about fondant said that it shouldn't be sticky.  I set the parchment on some tinfoil so it wouldn't stick to the counter.  It stuck to the tinfoil.  I snip snapped around the kitchen and got frustrated and .

Since it didn't turn out the way I thought it was supposed to turn out (see the first two photos below), I threw a tantrum, rolled up the gooey sticky fondant and tossed it in the trash.  To hell with bees, and feeding bees, and winter.

A little more than two hours after the tantrum, and after I'd gotten some helpful words from a fellow beekeeper, I retrieved my fondant from the trash and let it sit overnight on the counter.  I sprayed a piece of parchment paper with Pam to prevent it sticking again, set the other paper with the fondant and the shim on that, picked out bits of tinfoil left over from the tantrum and waited.

Jamie called me today from work and told me that he would put the fondant on the hive.  He thought I was silly for wanting to put on my jacket and gloves and veil to do it, plus as he says he has "boy skills".  I say preparation is the key to success (and not getting stung), we agree to disagree here.  I let him think he was going to be the one to put the fondant on the hive then I suited up and tromped through the snow and opened up the hive.

Success.  I saw my winter cluster of live bees.  Nearly getting stung I placed the fondant on the top of the frames and adjusted it so that there weren't big gaps between the shim with the candy and the top box.  I truly hope that the bee that made, uh a beeline for me, finds his way to the entrance else he's going to be pretty cold tonight.  Which reminds me I need to get some of the Denver Sting Stop.  Oh, and figure out what I need to buy for this coming spring.  And I need to send off the check I owe for yet another hive of bees.

So much to do...so much to do.