Jamaican Bees In Da Apiary

[Jahjude]

 :-D continuation from "GREETINGS/TELL US ABT URSLF" post :::Thanks you all for the welcome notes and i'll be sure to keep yall informed-So far i've gotten my 6th hive,took it out a tree on Sat. I've checked a few cells and noticed a worm looking pest below some capped brood...further research has pushed me in the direction to blv it the larvae of SMB but will have to try and confirm soon(i'm keeping this new hive away from the others)
Yesterday i made a check thru the 4hives i bought-on average they seem to be just 50% drawn out so far and all are in 10 frame boxes with foundation strips on unused frames - I've also confirmed one of them to be Queenless as there were no eggs(no evidence of laying workers either),no young larvae and just a few capped brood-they seem to be carrying on fine with there daily activities thus far bcuz i've been noticing pollens going in and cells beeing filled with nectar;What i've tried so far is taking a frame from two other hives with eggs,uncapped and capped brood so will be checking in on tham after a week with the expectation of seeing queen cell. (will try to post pic of parasite soon)

[Jack]

Looks like you have some good times a coming. The climate on your island should be great for the bees. Hope they don't work the ganja too much and become lazy. Negril, my favorite vacation destination.

[Ollie]

can you get ganja honey?

[Jahjude]

Nah never seen bees on ganja plant before-but just imagine huh ;) that'd bee some real high grade honey.

[Jahjude]

Here's a pic of the pests i found in a few cells of most recent hive i attained - Can anyone confirm if this is actually SMB larvae plz

http://img136.imageshack.us/i/beepest.jpg/

[sean]

I am not sure but that seems like wax moth larvae. Nuh quote mi pon that though. :-D. Where abouts in st ann are you? I pass that side every other friday morning. Be  careful when you do cutouts you run the risk of spreading something to your apiary in the event those bees are ill.

[Jahjude]

Oh zeen,Respec' i'll keep that in mind.Setting up the apiary in Lime Hall but work in Old Hbr so only make visits there on day off. Where U located??

[Jahjude]

UPDATE: Made another check on queenless hive mentioned in earliest post and have noticed quite a few queen cells,guess these would be referred to as "emergency queen cells" right??Well both frames that i had introduced a week ago now have queen cells on them capped and uncapped-Can only pray for the best now..
*Checked another of the hives i had bought an noticed approx. 3 queen cells,combs just over 50% drawn out,I noticed larvae at all stages but NO eggs so right now i'm thinking the queen may have died or somthing.Plan to make another check in 2wks.
** Good thing is,no Parasite was seen this time around-might have overlooked but still breathing a sigh of relief :-\

[sean]

Live in hellshire and the bees are in the bernard lodge area about 15 minutes away. I go to new harbour village about once a week. where in st. ann is lime hall? How is that area in terms of food and rain?

[Jahjude]

Lime HAll is between Claremont & St.Ann's Bay-its abt 3 miles from St.Ann's Bay -usually have moderate rainfall,rivers in the area also lots a trees.Real country area

[sean]

ok. I normally drive steer town chalky hill side. i have gone your side once i think. went down on thursday and it was overcast all the way to negril, i was expecting some rain

[Jahjude]

So are you registered and ting??Gotten assistance from feild officer?Do u have to use da annual treatments in ur apiary or u being organic??

[sean]

havent seen an extension officer in over a year, My original officer was transferred in 08. The last time i treated was 2008. I had used apiguard instead of apistan. I am trying to get some current info on essential oils and varroa. I tried it before but i  cant conclude if it actually worked or not.

[Jahjude]

I saw a pic u posted with ur hives on concrete base,does this help in anyway  for prevention of SHB since it's said the larvae has to leave da hives and pupate in soil??Got mine on conrete base also but was thnkng they'd just crawl off the concrete anyway.....
The hive i bought were treated with apistan,have seen SHB larvae and adults in 2/4 so far but just a few,NO varroa mite nor wax moth larvae and would really like to keep it that way...
When u mentioned i shudnt keep the hives i cut out close to the others i bought,what kinda distance would you regard as being far enough....Presently i actually have them abt 20ft away and set at a different angle-Was thinking abt setting up a totslly seperate apiary with only hive taken or split from cut-outs so may have to start onthat real soon..

[sean]

Ideally you dont want anywhere near within flying distance of your apiary until you are sure they are ok. Cutouts i do i keep at my home until i am sure they are healthy and have gotten a chance to strengthen as i burn all the comb i clean out. Have about 7 here now down from 11. I am starting a new apiary so i am transferring them slowly

[Jahjude]

Ok kool bro,unlike you I always tranfer the brood from cut-outs to the hives but seems you only take the bees/honey and burns remainder :-\ well,i'll give that some thought,but for now i'll continue to practice and gain experience this way.... all the best with your new set-up zeen!!Bless :mrgreen:

[sean]

dont even take the honey. who ever pays for me to move the bees gets the honey or their friends and neighbours. My reasoning is if that hive has shb or varroa by not taking the brood etc i can break the cycle for the shb and varroa. So far those i have at home have neither. been doing it since 2007 and have never treated them. It slows their buildup initially yes but then i have healthier bees

[Jahjude]

Yeahman sounds like a relatively good idea-will definately keep that in mind.That's more like forced swarming huh?So what do u do after taking a cut-out,yuh give them brood etc from other hives in da apiary?
YOW :shock: people pay for u to remove hives?? :lau: On my side a town people be asking how much am i willing to pay them to tell me where hives are :-D North/South differences!!

[sean]

yes i am paid. I have come across people who want me to pay  them for the hives, i usually tell them put the bees in a box with ten frames make sure i have a good queen make sure they have been treated then i will pay them. But normally i only have that problem when doing work for individuals. The charge is based on percieved ability to pay. People have called me realizing that there is a charge but tell me they cant afford to pay. As long as its not too hard to deal with i'll do it with no problem, but once them come with the ginnalship its a another story. If the hive i get is strong and has a queen i dont normally give them any brood but if i am not sure there is a queen then i'll give a frame with mostly eggs. 

[Jahjude]

Yah fair enough,sounds kool 8-),hey how often would u suggest i inspect the hive-Was wondering if weekly wud be too frequent and cause them to abscond?