Beehive in dense woods?

buzzbee · March 09, 2015, 07:06:37 PM

You guys have this all worked out now? Are we done taunting? Lets move on.
Iddees post is really a good example of beekeeping is local. I have had a couple hive beetles in my yard before. Rarely though as my soil type likely isn't conducive for them.
But I have seen inside a weak hive in the South and the total destruction a strong hive beetle population can do.
So lets keep it all together here folks, the days are getting longer and brighter so we can get out and blow off the cabin fever.

drjeseuss · March 09, 2015, 09:25:34 PM

I had a hive "in the woods" on my lot. They were neat the edge with clearing to the south, so they got sun early , then dappled light most of the day. I won't comment on SHB issues, but did find they were slower to dry and cap honey, and also had issues with mildew under the cover. I moved them late in the year and they took off, but to late. They didn't get the act together. I lost them just this week. I won't be putting any more out there.

hjon71 · March 09, 2015, 09:27:26 PM

SHB are definitely an issue to be dealt with in the south. But that doesn't mean one size fits all when it comes to handling SHB. I live in TN and my hive is in direct sun for a very small amount of time. Not a densely wooded area but still mostly shaded to dappled light. To the point, I of course have some SHB but they aren't uncontrolled. I find that by keeping extra space in the hive to a minimum the bees are capable of controlling the SHB. What does this mean for the beekeeper? Adding supers one at a time instead of all at once and reducing the hive to the point of crowding the bees in late fall has proven quite effective for me.

sc-bee · March 09, 2015, 11:03:15 PM

Dang I missed it....To address id.... man you know I was poking. jiving, kidding, whatever it was and I know you were.... no harm or foul here but you knew that already. But Ken you and I both know id is a .... well I'll stop there you said move on :)

As far dense woods and hives. As said. a lot of beekeeping is location. Not sure of Missouri.... never even been close and at my age probably want now. As close as I will probably get is Lawton OK when boy graduates

But back to bees. Not so sure if it is the full shade and shb for me as much as the full shade usually means leaf matter and soft dirt for me. A great combination for the shb to pupate in my area. I can not keep bees here at my home place because it is nothing but a hardwood hollow with leafy matter and soft dirt.

I do like a hedge row to break the wind and add some shade in our 96 plus degree summer days

And bees in the cooler dense shade will not exit to forage as early. But this is in my locale... Do bees live in old tress in the shade of course but for some reason we want them to conform

buzzbee · March 09, 2015, 11:33:31 PM

This is be a good to to post a reminder to the rules here at Beemasetr. Take special note to rule 2 in this case. Tolerance is pretty low for these infractions.
http://www.beemaster.com/forum/index.php?topic=19652.0

sc-bee · March 10, 2015, 12:13:40 AM

I would PM you buzzbee but I used up my 3 pm's an hour on id. We were crappie fishing before we got cut off

CapnChkn · March 10, 2015, 08:44:26 AM

I've had my bees on concrete, on mulch, in the woods, in the sun, and I don't see any difference. I haven't found a good way of trapping them ♫♪♪♫'s.

Usually a hive that gets demoralized by losing a queen, has too much room, or is otherwise upset are the ones that allow the trash to build up. I find the grubs squirming around in that stuff on the floor first. Sometimes I DO walk out to find stuff oozing down the front, just to tip the hive and see it all run out, but never a strong and happy colony.

The reason for my placements are to get the workers out and working early, keep them cool in the shade of the hot part of the day. I've watched the beetles fly in at dusk no matter where the hive is placed. Putting mylar or aluminum over the top cover does wonders for reflecting a lot of that heat from direct sun.

chux · March 11, 2015, 11:28:30 AM

If local beeks say they have SHB in the area, I would do what it took to find a sunny spot for the hives. Also use a trap in the hive.

I believe it was pointed out that folks from all over the world are interacting on this site. That is a great thing. We do have different types of humor. Some of you guys are very direct in your writing. Cut and try. Just give me the info, and skip the other stuff. Others kid around and throw a "jab" in what they take as a friendly way. It may help all of us to assume that the vast majority of our responses are not meant to be disrespectful, but to be cordial and helpful. Let's all try not to be so easily offended. We are in this together, because we choose to be.

Jim Hughes · March 16, 2015, 09:29:57 PM

For what it's worth, mine get early morning sun, dappled sun/shade in mid-day, then sun late afternoon. Zero of my neighbors even knew I had bees until I walked the neighborhood and gave away pint jars of fresh barely strained honey.

I mow right up to all sides of their house and they never have cared at all. Point the exhaust away, of course . . . .

Best of luck.

10framer · March 16, 2015, 11:25:16 PM

i've driven across the show me state a few times and i've never seen dense woods that i can remember.
i'm in georgia and i've been back into beekeeping for about 4 years now and i've lost some hives but not to beetles.
i went through 13 hives saturday and saw (and killed) 3 beetles. a couple of my hives can only be described as dinks right now.
that being said my hives are in full sun most of the day and i don't use traps or anything else to control the beetles. i'm not swearing that that is the only reason i don't have problems, i may have just been lucky up until now and the shoe might drop tomorrow.
i lost some hives in alabama in 02 and 03 that had beetles in them when i did the autopsy but i can't say for sure that's what killed them. they were in a shaded location, though.

Richard M · March 17, 2015, 06:47:28 AM

Why do shaded sites encourage SHB?

Michael Bush · March 17, 2015, 08:43:22 AM

>Why do shaded sites encourage SHB?

I don't know if any research has been done specifically on that topic, but SHB eggs require 50% humidity for five days to hatch. My guess is that the sun drives down the humidity and less eggs hatch into larvae.

http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/misc/bees/small_hive_beetle.htm

Packrat3wires · March 19, 2015, 10:39:31 PM

I have done both but my results were not as good with my hives in the woods. My hives now get early and mid day sun but the tops of the trees on my fence row give them shade in the afternoon. It also makes it a little cooler to work with them in the hot humid Kentucky hot August afternoons. Nothing says fun like wearing a suit and veil in 99 degree / 90% humidity afternoon.