Its SWARMING TIME AGAIN
The weather has finally mellowed out. The little girls are going to work AGAIN.
Last year we didn't have very many swarms because of the Drought. But not this year. Since we are receiving rain once or twice a week there is plenty for the bees to work. I've already found a couple of hives that had lots of Queen cells. And to date I've already received 10 swarm calls so far.
Crowding causes swarming when the queen runs out of cells to lay in, she thinks it's time to go. If you go into a colony and find 5 or more queen cells that have larva in them, DO NOT destroy them! If you destroy them and they swarm anyway then they have no chance to survive. If they have that many Cells, they most likely are going to SWARM no matter what. The best thing that I have found to do for swarming if you find several Queen cells with larva in them is to make 3 frame splits out of the entire colony. Be sure there is at least one cell in each split and at least one frame of brood in each split.
I had an inquiry about re-queening and treating for mites.
If you find ANY Varroa Mites I would not hesitate to treat with SUCROCIDE, Immediately!!!
The way I re-queen is to Find the Queen, Pinch her, Drop her back onto the frame then let some of the bees gather around her for a minute I then replace the frame into the middle of the box.
You can let them make a new Queen which I do NOT recommend. If you are putting in Queen Cells then you can put them in now. If putting in a newly purchased Queen, then I prefer to put it in the next day. Don't pinch your old queen until you have cells or a new queen ready. I have had queens lost in shipping before.
If you contributed in any way to our last meeting, THANK YOU!!!!
WE WILL BE GRAFTING QUEEN CELLS AT THE NEXT MEETING IF ALL GOES AS PLANNED! May 22nd.
If grafting sounds hard come See How Easy It Is!!!!!
May 31st we hope to have your grafted cells for you. If you just want to try grafting and not get your cells that's OK too.
We will also have other things at the meeting.
SEE YA AT THE NEXT MEETIN'. NW 10th @ Portland Ave. OSU Extension center north side.
Last year we didn't have very many swarms because of the Drought. But not this year. Since we are receiving rain once or twice a week there is plenty for the bees to work. I've already found a couple of hives that had lots of Queen cells. And to date I've already received 10 swarm calls so far.
Crowding causes swarming when the queen runs out of cells to lay in, she thinks it's time to go. If you go into a colony and find 5 or more queen cells that have larva in them, DO NOT destroy them! If you destroy them and they swarm anyway then they have no chance to survive. If they have that many Cells, they most likely are going to SWARM no matter what. The best thing that I have found to do for swarming if you find several Queen cells with larva in them is to make 3 frame splits out of the entire colony. Be sure there is at least one cell in each split and at least one frame of brood in each split.
I had an inquiry about re-queening and treating for mites.
If you find ANY Varroa Mites I would not hesitate to treat with SUCROCIDE, Immediately!!!
The way I re-queen is to Find the Queen, Pinch her, Drop her back onto the frame then let some of the bees gather around her for a minute I then replace the frame into the middle of the box.
You can let them make a new Queen which I do NOT recommend. If you are putting in Queen Cells then you can put them in now. If putting in a newly purchased Queen, then I prefer to put it in the next day. Don't pinch your old queen until you have cells or a new queen ready. I have had queens lost in shipping before.
If you contributed in any way to our last meeting, THANK YOU!!!!
WE WILL BE GRAFTING QUEEN CELLS AT THE NEXT MEETING IF ALL GOES AS PLANNED! May 22nd.
If grafting sounds hard come See How Easy It Is!!!!!
May 31st we hope to have your grafted cells for you. If you just want to try grafting and not get your cells that's OK too.
We will also have other things at the meeting.
SEE YA AT THE NEXT MEETIN'. NW 10th @ Portland Ave. OSU Extension center north side.
posted by Tom Thornton at 9:56 PM
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