Comment

Comment by Rob Shepler on August 27, 2012 at 3:54am

These were the Bee Weavers again.

Comment by Paul McCarty on August 26, 2012 at 9:19pm

I don't have much luck with swarms. I prefer doing cut-outs. Very cool! Which bees were these?

Comment by Diana Calkins on August 26, 2012 at 4:17pm

How exciting!  How about you and Betsy come over next Sunday to take a gander at our hive?  As long as there isn't stormy weather, that is.

Comment by Betsy Shepler on August 26, 2012 at 3:26pm

It was amazing to see the little dance the scouts were performing! Even more amazing was to look at that big undulating ball of bees and Rob says "Oh! There's the queen!" and sticks his fingers into that buzzing mass on the branch and comes up with her! Wow!

Comment by Rob Shepler on August 26, 2012 at 10:59am

I caught my first swarm of the year today!

 

I got the swarm call from the bees themselves. I happened to go peek at my bee yard and saw some interesting activity and sat down to watch the whole thing unfold.

 

I had just checked that hive yesterday and found open brood and capped brood, but no eggs. There was a couple of what I thought were emergency cells in the middle of the comb, they had plenty of room, light stores, yep must be a supercedure.

 

Wrong!

 

I did use the trick that I learned from James, I watched till I found the queen and then captured her and put her in a queen cage. It really makes catching a swarm a sure thing, they signed the lease.

 

I keep thinking that fall is just around the corner, but I guess that the bees disagree.

Comment by Rob Shepler on August 25, 2012 at 2:27pm

More bees in the news, this one is about urban beekeeping.

http://grist.org/food/keeping-the-peace-between-beekeepers-and-thei... 

Comment by Rob Shepler on August 24, 2012 at 7:56pm

The latest news on the bear fence program with NM Game and Fish from our friend Jessie Brown.

Hi Rob, here is the information I received from Les as of 8/6/12 about the Bear Fencing though G & F:　　

　

"I just talked to Jerry Radcliffe. 　He says that he now has 40 new units for the beekeepers, they cost about $375 per which he considers relatively inexpensive considering the benefit, and that there is a delay in the department due to a change in leadership that is requiring the contract be reworded. 　But that soon the units will be going out to beekeepers again. 　Yeah! 　If a beekeeping business requests many they will only get one so that more people can get the one they need. 　Bureaucracy requires a little patience and Jerry does not feel that it will be long nor that they need a letter or delegation from the public to break any logjam at this time."

　

　

I'll forward your email on to him again to see if he has heard any new information.

Comment by Paul McCarty on August 24, 2012 at 10:55am

Interesting abstract I found about a paper written back in 1997 talking about the use of Juniper, alfalfa Rabbit Pellets, Pennyroyal, etc in the control of Varroa.... 

 

USDA Abstract on Natural Materials used for Smoke for Varroa Control

Comment by Paul McCarty on August 24, 2012 at 8:51am

I also noticed my smaller bees tend to see regular foundation almost like drone cells. They don't like to switch back and forth too much.

Comment by Paul McCarty on August 24, 2012 at 8:47am

My observation totally. Should have explained things a bit better I guess.

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