Worldwide Beekeeping

Beekeeping => Beekeeping 101 => Topic started by: WantToBeeLady on July 27, 2016, 04:41:34 pm

Title: Hive intruders
Post by: WantToBeeLady on July 27, 2016, 04:41:34 pm

I've been noticing some little yellow jackets and some wasps with white stripes on them hanging around the hive.  Yesterday there were tons of bees swarming at the entrance, so the hive is fighting off intruders.  What concerns me is that this is a new hive and I just put a second super on it last week. They are busy building out the new frames AND fighting off intruders.  Is there anything I can do to get rid of these other opportunists?  It's been really dry and hot here, so I imagine the food supply for outside insects is slim to none.  I even considered putting old soda pop in tin pans far away from my bees to draw them away. Any suggestions?

Title: Re: Hive intruders
Post by: tedh on July 27, 2016, 04:54:52 pm

Use an entrance reducer to limit the space the honey bees need to protect.  Soda pop may/will draw honey bees also.  Do a forum search for "yellow jacket trap".  Good luck, Ted

Title: Re: Hive intruders
Post by: iddee on July 27, 2016, 06:20:45 pm

Make one of these and install it.

http://www.worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/index.php/topic,1420.msg44188/topicseen.html#msg44188

Title: Re: Hive intruders
Post by: Mikey N.C. on July 27, 2016, 09:00:14 pm

Was in a rush an made this with plywood, tried to tape but had to use ratchet strap, then bees were getting under so had to use intro redu. , then didn't realize that at the top by hand holes ? Needed to have a 3/8" entrance so I used some #8  lol ,  it worked and is still working .
(https://s31.postimg.cc/52svbmzbb/IMG_20160621_175930.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/52svbmzbb/)