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Honey, Bee Forage; Nectar & Pollen Sources / Re: What blooms where and when
« Last post by neillsayers on Today at 05:05:40 pm »Looks like a good Black Locust flow this year. 
Recent Posts
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General Beekeeping / Re: Swarm Out of Reach
« Last post by Eddy Honey on April 20, 2024, 10:17:58 am »You have more discipline than me: No tree is safe when it comes to catching my own swarm 
Some days, my wife forbids me to take my "swarm walk" lol.
Some days, my wife forbids me to take my "swarm walk" lol. 3
Swarms, Cut Outs, Trap Outs and Bee Trees / Swarm in Honeysuckle bush
« Last post by Bakersdozen on April 17, 2024, 10:59:50 am »My neighbor gave me a call yesterday to tell me this swarm was landing in a honeysuckle bush near his property line. It was bigger than I thought because they were hiding in the bush. It was about 4 ft. off the ground. I don't think it was my swarm but I will check. I saw the queen. She was a beautiful Italian.
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Honey, Bee Forage; Nectar & Pollen Sources / Re: What blooms where and when
« Last post by Bakersdozen on April 17, 2024, 10:50:11 am »66061: 4/16/24 Honeysuckle
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Honey, Bee Forage; Nectar & Pollen Sources / Re: What blooms where and when
« Last post by Bakersdozen on April 16, 2024, 10:24:08 am »66409: 4/15/24 Here's one I never heard of before. My beekeeping friend lives just south of Topeka, KS. She witnessed her bees all over her blooming Pin Oak. They were collecting pollen. So, even though you won't find Pin Oaks on any nectar or pollen lists, they will work it.
Amur Maple and fruiting Cherries blooming too.
Amur Maple and fruiting Cherries blooming too.
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Honey, Bee Forage; Nectar & Pollen Sources / Re: What blooms where and when
« Last post by Bakersdozen on April 15, 2024, 10:52:45 am »
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General Beekeeping / Re: Bee Vac Advice
« Last post by iddee on April 15, 2024, 04:12:09 am »Most any of them will be too strong for bees. You must provide an adjustment such as a screened hole that can br opened and closed as needed. Google "Bushkill bee vac". The power needs to be adjustable as the receiving container fills with bees.
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General Beekeeping / Bee Vac Advice
« Last post by Hauberk on April 15, 2024, 01:14:47 am »Hello. What size vacuum cleaner needed for beevac? I locate one with motor on top of drum that is 800w. Seems to have good suction but I would like some advise please. 14kPa suction power delivering 25 Li/sec airflow.
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General Beekeeping / Re: Swarm Out of Reach
« Last post by The15thMember on April 14, 2024, 02:55:45 pm »Well they didn't stick. Most of them were back on the tree yesterday. While Haley and I were debating what we wanted to try next, the same hive cast another swarm. The new swarm seemed kind of confused by the fact that there was a swarm on the tree already, and they hovered around them for a few minutes before landing right next to them. We decided at that point to just cut to the top of the tree off and see if we could get them that way. We staked a tarp down on the ground this time, and obviously both swarms got mixed together pretty indiscriminately when they fell down. We managed to get most of them into a bin, but when I went and dumped the bin into a hive I had set up, a LOT of bees flew right back to the tree and perched just below where we'd made the cut. I had a robbing screen on the hive, so I just locked in the bees that hadn't flown, and then I went into their mother queen's hive and got a frame of open brood for them. We were going to try again to get the rest of the bees down, but they didn't settle nicely and seemed kind of agitated and were moving around on the tree a lot, so we decided to break for lunch and reassess the situation later. Well, after lunch the swarm seemed a lot smaller, and I noticed that the hive they had issued from was fanning like crazy at the entrance, the whole apiary smelled like Nasanov pheromone. I inspected a couple of hives, and by the time I was done, there was only a grapefruit sized clump of bees left on the tree. Then this morning, the hive swarmed again, so I guess they just called them back to try again the next day. I opened up the entrance on the hive that had been locked up and the bees in there didn't run for the hills when I did so, and some started orienting, so maybe there is a queen in there, or at least the brood has made enough of them stick. We'll see. I left a bait hive nearby to see if the swarm is interested in it, but I don't have the time to mess around with them anymore today. Maybe tomorrow if they are still there.
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General Beekeeping / New beeks, pay attention
« Last post by iddee on April 13, 2024, 05:09:09 pm »I've heard some say their bees were so gentle they could work them with no protection, or even no smoke. I had 2 hives like that 3 weeks ago. Today, I smoked them both and opened the first one. It was normal. I opened the second one and walked away quickly. About 20 stings when I opened it and more as I walked over 50 feet away. QUEENLESS
Always go in expecting the worst, then disrobe if desired, unless you want a large dose of bee venom therapy.
Always go in expecting the worst, then disrobe if desired, unless you want a large dose of bee venom therapy.