Bees and hot weather

JimW · November 19, 2014, 10:20:11 PM

Hello all,

Just a question on hot weather. Its only November and we've already had a few 39 degree days out here in Western Sydney.

Does anyone have any advice on what to do on those super hot days? Should I let the bees fend for themselves?

I've read about putting up an umbrella to give them some shade, but i'm concerned that if it wasnt in the right spot it might mess up their navigation.

How about putting a sprinkler nearby with some water going on top of the hive to cool them down a bit? Again i'd be concerned that if it wasnt in the right spot it could do more harm than good.

:cheer:
Cheers
Jim

ShaneJ · November 19, 2014, 11:00:51 PM

If you are using migratory lids with decent size vents and also have the hive entrance full size and open you shouldn't have to do anything. You could if you wanted to prop open the lids to give them a little more ventilation but if you don't have enough nectar available you might find your bees start looking to rob each other.

I have all my hives in full sun and never have a problem.

JimW · November 19, 2014, 11:02:42 PM

You would be much hotter than where I am, so i'll leave them as is.

Thanks for the tip.

Suncat · November 22, 2014, 05:42:47 PM

We have had quite a few days over 40 here where I am over the last couple of weeks. All my hive have ventilated lids and screen bottom boards, but to give my hives some shelter from the blazing hot midday sun, I have put a shadecloth shelter over them. This gives them dappled shade from about 11:00 to 2:00, but even with this all the hives are spending a lot more time outside the hive then in it.

John

Rmcpb · November 23, 2014, 05:10:50 AM

I use the corflute off real estate signs with the white side up over my lids. Also use a Warre type quilt with vents under the actual quilt so the hot air can get out. Worked last season when we had lots of melt downs in other hives.

Cheers
Rob.

Culley · November 23, 2014, 10:22:04 PM

I put a nuc from a 5 frame box into a 10 frame box (because I had to use the 5 frame box to hatch out a wonderful queen from a swarm cell :-D), and I didn't have a proper lid, just the sheet metal part from an old lid, so that was their cover for a few weeks.

This hive was the only one that was bearding out the front. I gave them a proper vented lid yesterday, and they've stopped bearding already.

I use solid bottom boards. I didn't know people used screened bottom boards in Australia.

Suncat · November 24, 2014, 08:52:25 PM

I use my version of a screened bottom board for SHB control. About 1/3 of the bottom board is cut away and covered with a metal gutter guard and liquid nailed into place, then i put a shallow baking tray underneath the hive on runners, filled with lime. The SHB fall in a and cant get out :-D, and still provides an amount of ventilation for the hive as well.

Works great for me, as without it I doubt the any other SHB control would keep up, I can collect 50-100 SHB per hive in a week in the trap.

Rmcpb · November 25, 2014, 03:04:21 AM

Gee, the beetle must be really bad up there. We find a strong hive seems to be able to handle them.

Cheers
Rob.

ShaneJ · November 25, 2014, 04:44:08 AM

Apart from keeping the hive strong by keeping honey and pollen out of the brood box I don't do anything for SHB.

Suncat · November 26, 2014, 03:59:37 AM

I have 2 really strong hives and 3 newish splits. The splits do have more trouble with SHB, as they are not as strong, but the strong hives still have their fair share of SHB also.

I robbed one of the stronger hives on Sunday, and out of 3 honey supers, pulled about 60kg of honey :-D