Apichat

Fog rolled in last night leading to a cold and damp 5C start this morning after weeks of wild windy weather, ice and and snow, but the wind has finally calmed enough for a quick check around the apiaries.

The bees were up but haven't used much feed in last three nearly four weeks. Topped up the fondant, supplemented that with honey comb laid on top of exposed frames in the garden hives. The bees were on it instantly, just goes to show there's nothing like the real thing!

Usually put Nektapoll on the frames with the fondant feeders at this point to give the bees a boost as the spring arrives but supplies haven't resumed since Brexit, so trying out Vitafeed Pollen Patty this year.

Early spring flowers are showing all around now, snowdrops, crocuses, hellebores, mahonia, and gorse, all have pollen available and if the sun comes out the bees will find it.

28th January, overcast, windy, 10C, the first snowdrops and crocus are in flower, the daffodils are pushing on, and the bees have been putting in an appearance these last couple of days. Spring is on it's way and it's always a good reminder that the new beekeeping season is just round the corner and preparations need to be made.

17th January - A gloriously calm sunny day, bracing at minus 2C.

It's been 14 days since their first OA treatment. Checking the varroa boards the day after the first treatment revealed very few mites. It was time to carry out the second Oxalic Acid Sublimations and topping up/replacing any low feeders.

Following the last couple of days sub zero temperatures the bees were nicely down in the hives. Going about the process quietly and gently avoids having the bees trying to pour out while the wand is inserted. Once the power is applied and the OA fog billows through the hive they become agitated enough, and can be heard roaring inside. A silent hive at this point is an indication that all may not be well. In the event 2 were silent, and on removing the roofs once the wand had been removed and the colony allowed to settle it was evident that the strong colonies have remained strong but that 2 weaker colonies had died out. Both were dismantled and inspected for cause on site.

The first, in a garden apiary, was not an unexpected loss, having observed fresh drones at the previous visit, which is not a good sign at this time of the year. Inspection revealed very few bees left, perhaps as few as 4 or 5 hundred, as many that would fill your cupped hands. Many of the dead bees were drones. What evidence there was of brood production were just a few scattered drone cells either sealed or emerging.

The second was in an out apiary, records show that it had struggled through the season, been re-queened twice eventually becoming queen-right, but had never managed to reach full strength despite our efforts. There were very few bees left, as little as 3 or 4 hundred, and no evidence of any brood at all.

Both colonies were queen-right and had sufficient bees and stores when configured for winter and should have been able to survive and continue brood production through to spring. With so few bees left and no evidence of brood production, queen failure seems the most likely cause. This would not be a surprise considering the weather conditions during the season when the virgin queens should have been out mating. The rate of failure, more than 60%, of the splits and nucs created around the same time would support this theory.

Fingers crossed the colonies left are strong and will remain so!

January 3rd 2024, 9C, overcast, cold and damp but calm day, bees staying inside.

Quick visits were required to the out apiaries over the last couple of weeks due to wild weather and very strong gales. Thankfully all in colonies in tact, although wind damage to surrounding trees was evident, falling branches blocking the track but just missing the hives.

Taking advantage of a break in the weather today to apply the first sublimation of Oxalic Acid. A quiet and gentle approach was required so as not to disturb the bees before inserting the heating wand, this ensures maximum effect of the vapour on phoretic mites. 3 minute heating of 2 - 2.5gms OA crystals, then leaving for a further 10 - 15 minutes before removing the wand and allowing bees out.



Two garden hives being treated, two wands in use, one heating while the other is set up. Allows the first to be left to cool in place while keeping the bees in for maximum effect while the second is heating. The bungee on the heating wand and attached to the brick on the roof, is under gentle pressure to keep the wand in place, the hive sealed, and the heating tip down from the underside of the wooden frames.

Once the wand is removed, bees invariably come out to investigate the intrusion. Bees that appeared from one hive were fresh drones, not at all what was expected, and probably means the queen has run out of sperm, or worse. Disappointing but not entirely a surprise as many of the nucs and splits created during the season didn't take, or produce laying queens. This was down largely to atrocious weather over extended periods meaning poor or no mating. Not much can be done for this particular colony at this stage, we will just have to see what happens to it over the next weeks.

2nd December inspection - temperatures have dropped down closer to seasonal levels, which is a relief as the bees have been consuming their stores at quite a pace. Checking the hives through the glass quilts revealed most were down in the brood chamber, although a couple of the strongest colonies were up and very active on the fondant.

A quick check of the varroa boards showed that there is still significant amounts of brood being produced in all hives . If the temperatures remain low, brood production should slow down which will aid the efficacy of Oxalic Acid treatments at the end of the month.

With as little disturbance as possible the quilts were slid aside and empty feeder tubs quickly replaced in the ekes. Only the strongest colony bees came out, and like opening a hive in the dark (never recommended!), on this cold day the bees tended to cling and crawl rather then fly. After taking the gloves were off a painful sting on the thumb from one that had made it's way into my warm trouser pocket reminded me of that!

Thursday 16th was cold and damp (6C) as we checked the bees through the glass quilts in the first reasonable weather following days and days of rain. They were mostly down in the brood box but had been consuming fondant stores in the ekes, which were quickly replaced with minimum disturbance.

Today Sunday 19th the temperature is up at an unseasonal 13C and the bees are active again, out flying and bringing in pollen, lots of it.



A quick look at one of the varroa boards showed capping debris under 4 frames, meaning there is still a reasonable amount of brood on the go. At warmer temperatures they will remain active and will keep consuming stores quickly with out bringing nectar. Until the temperatures drop to 5C and below it'll be necessary to check on stores levels fortnightly.

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After Babet finally passed the temperature today is down at 6C, the leaves have turned to hues of gold, and it felt like a damp autumn day as we checked colony stores levels. This should only have required lifting the roofs for a quick look through the glass crown boards. The bees were mostly down, but had consumed more than was be expected at this point, probably due to the uncanny weather keeping them active when there is no nectar to gather, so empty fondant feeders were quickly changed for full ones. The bees were relatively passive and we carried this out with as little disturbance as possible. It takes quite a considerable time for a disturbed cluster to reform and valuable winter bees may be lost in those circumstances.

We are past the point of no return for any form of brood chamber inspections now. After this the only disturbance will be on a favourable day to check and replenish stores, so fully prepared the hives for winter. Joints between ekes and brood boxes were duct taped, as were the Porter escapes in the crown boards apertures, in order to create a draught proof environment in which the colony can cluster safely over the winter. Hive entrances are closed to their minimum, and varroa boards propped up at the back with a chunk of sponge to close the gap. Icy draughts from winter winds can quickly chill and kill off the outer cluster bees until there are insufficient left to maintain the core temperature required.

A cold and foggy start today as we started configuring the colonies for winter.

By lunchtime the sun had appeared and pollen was going into all hives, orange from ivy and a light yellow from an unidentified source, which made the bees less grumpy considering the cold and damp. All autumn varroa treatments are complete and the remaining supers (now mostly empty) are off and fondant feeders in place in the ekes. Glass crown boards allow easy inspection of feeders and frame tops.

Despite the sun and 17C the bees were pretty defensive today as we checked autumn varroa treatments applied after removing the last of the honey crop. The strongest colonies showed the heaviest varroa drop over first 24hrs. All honey to come off was removed before treatments began 2 weeks past. Honey left as stores now supplemented with wet supers following extraction, then it'll be ekes and fondant feeders.

Varroa treatments carried out are varied across the apiaries - flumethrin strips, thymol gel, formic acid vapour, to ensure the winter bees are in the best health. Oxalic Acid sublimation to follow during the winter lowest brood period to ensure lowest possible load at onset of spring.