The Honey Factory

[Kusanar]

I am still seeing too many small hive beetles, some of which are hiding under the Swiffer dry sheets!
I ordered a clear hive cover for each of the hives (2) as well as a small hive beetle trap for each hive. Hopefully those will do the trick!
I also melted down some "old" beeswax I had removed from the hives earlier in the year and "painted" it onto a couple of those black plastic sheets in a few frames that I have. I want to see if that makes them more acceptable to the bees or not.
How are everyone else's bees doing?

I actually follow a guy on youtube who paints / coats his plastic sheets with melted wax for that reason. He actually does it pretty thick so the bees can chew it thin and then use the extra to build the cell walls. He used to paint, but he has like 60 hives or something like that, so now he melts the wax in a really large pot with water in it, the wax floats to the top and he just dips the sheets into the wax and lets them coat themselves.

 

[jerryse]

Lots of bees in this hive . Swarm trapped early June . Just got done working the hives . Took 3 deep frames of honey from the June hive . More frames of honey but not capped yet . I think I will leave them the rest . July swarm hive not so good only 3 deep frames being worked . It was a small swarm .

 

[duluthralphie]

I tried mowing in front of my hives today. The one hive took a vote and decided I should not mow today.

I conceded and found other things to do.

 

[MarkJr]

I tried mowing in front of my hives today. The one hive took a vote and decided I should not mow today.

I conceded and found other things to do.

Amazing how collective bargaining works.

 

[karenerwin]

I need to check on my hives tomorrow or Tuesday. Both hives seemed to be doing very well. The last time I checked on them was when I added a brood box to the youngest hive and a 2nd super to the original hive. I really made the younger hive mad. I wasn't geared up and didn't have my hive tool or smoker and I guess I was thinking my bees must love me and wouldn't mind me trying to smoosh some beetles that were running around under the cover.

I think I smacked at the beetles a little too hard and then followed that up with a jolt when I tried to pry the top cover off (without the use of the hive tool)
Anyway they were SOOOO glad to see me that they came swarming out
I got stung on the nose and on the wrist and I am VERY LUCKY I didn't get stung a few more places.
I went inside after shaking off the bees on my shirt and put on my full bee suit and gloves and veil and went back out to finish putting the brood box on top and re-closing the hive. (First time I had used more than just the veil). Then I had to look around the yard to see where I had flung my ball cap to and go retrieve it.
I did go back in a few days later ( again fully suited up) and placed some frames inside the brood box.
They were much calmer then. I still need to add wax to more frames and get the rest of them out there.

I also need to see how the small hive beetle situation is doing. I saw more of them in both hives than I am comfortable with. I tried putting the Swiffer dry cloths in the hives but that appears to have just given the beetles another place to hide.
A couple of days ago I ordered 2 small hive beetle traps and 2 clear hive covers. Hopefully they will be here sometime this week! My mentor said to try the clear covers because the beetles like it dark and this will let more light in. In the meantime I have to remember NOT to smash the beetles TOO enthusiastically! ( the bees don't like it).

 

[R2elk]

Sorry you had to learn the hard way to not stir the bees up.

 

[karenerwin]

Sorry you had to learn the hard way to not stir the bees up.

Hopefully I am smart enough to remember this lesson!!

 

[duluthralphie]

Hopefully I am smart enough to remember this lesson!!

I think you should set up a video camera before you attempt your next naked hive entry. Just so we can all enjoy chuckle laugh snicker learn be entertained be reminded to not forget to wear our suits when inspecting hives.

Maybe you could get a custom designed cap that says “I fear no Bee”. I think that would keep the girls from bothering you... BTW don’t forget to film how well the cap works..

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

I need to check on my hives tomorrow or Tuesday. Both hives seemed to be doing very well. The last time I checked on them was when I added a brood box to the youngest hive and a 2nd super to the original hive. I really made the younger hive mad. I wasn't geared up and didn't have my hive tool or smoker and I guess I was thinking my bees must love me and wouldn't mind me trying to smoosh some beetles that were running around under the cover.

I think I smacked at the beetles a little too hard and then followed that up with a jolt when I tried to pry the top cover off (without the use of the hive tool)
Anyway they were SOOOO glad to see me that they came swarming out
I got stung on the nose and on the wrist and I am VERY LUCKY I didn't get stung a few more places.
I went inside after shaking off the bees on my shirt and put on my full bee suit and gloves and veil and went back out to finish putting the brood box on top and re-closing the hive. (First time I had used more than just the veil). Then I had to look around the yard to see where I had flung my ball cap to and go retrieve it.
I did go back in a few days later ( again fully suited up) and placed some frames inside the brood box.
They were much calmer then. I still need to add wax to more frames and get the rest of them out there.

I also need to see how the small hive beetle situation is doing. I saw more of them in both hives than I am comfortable with. I tried putting the Swiffer dry cloths in the hives but that appears to have just given the beetles another place to hide.
A couple of days ago I ordered 2 small hive beetle traps and 2 clear hive covers. Hopefully they will be here sometime this week! My mentor said to try the clear covers because the beetles like it dark and this will let more light in. In the meantime I have to remember NOT to smash the beetles TOO enthusiastically! ( the bees don't like it).

On the swiffer pads the beetles legs get caught in them and they get tangled in it. I've never seen them hide in them? Are you using these:

I use a combination of them and the Beetle Blasters.
Is your hive heavily shaded? I have Bee Max lids to let more light in too.

 

[karenerwin]

On the swiffer pads the beetles legs get caught in them and they get tangled in it. I've never seen them hide in them? Are you using these:
View attachment 2314264

I use a combination of them and the Beetle Blasters.
Is your hive heavily shaded? I have Bee Max lids to let more light in too.

Yes, those are the same Swiffer sweeper pads that I used. One hive is a bit more shaded than the other but I placed the hives so the get dappled sunlight and full sunlight. But I’m thinking of slowly moving the smaller hive to where it will get sunlight a little earlier in the day.