Good news, bad news, and a question.

Card · September 01, 2008, 07:40:08 AM

Yesterday afternoon I did a full-blown, every-frame inspection of both my hives. Good news and bad news, basically.

The bad news is that they don't have as much honey stored as I would like them to have. Not a big surprise, really. Due to circumstances beyond my control, I got them started much later in the spring than I would have liked, and they missed the big flows in my area. We've also been in 'extreme drought' status for most of the summer, which I'm sure hasn't helped the nectar supply any. I'll keep feeding them, and hope to get them through the winter on syrup.

The good news? I found both queens, and they seem to be doing well. The hives both seem strong and healthy. There was also no sign whatsoever of varroa, SHB, or wax moth. I feel really lucky about that.

So my question for you guys would be...
Should I do anything, or just leave them alone?

I'd planned on treating the hives for varroa as a preventive measure, and just about every book I've read says you should do that in the fall. But part of me is reluctant to start using any kind of medication with them if they don't need it, and everything I've seen so far seems to indicate that they don't need it.

What do you think?

WhipCityBeeMan · September 01, 2008, 07:56:21 AM

I would not treat as a preventative with any chemical treatment. If I were to do anything for varroa as a preventative measure, I would use an IPM method. If you have SBB try the powdered sugar treatment or succrocide. I have never used succrocide. I have a bottle in my garage that is just sitting there. Perhaps I should follow my own advice. :-D

jimmyo · September 01, 2008, 08:58:35 AM

leave the meds alone.
we only use SBBs for mites and home grown queens from hives that survived the winter. things are just fine around here.
If you have a goldenrod bloom, I'd wait until after that to make the decision to feed or not. We have decided to not feed and let the strong hives survive.
Jim

Michael Bush · September 01, 2008, 09:48:42 AM

This is a good time of year to assess the Varroa. A sugar shake or a 24 hour drop or uncap a few capped drone brood-- or all three.

greenismycolor · September 01, 2008, 11:51:13 PM

Hi all

When you speak of sugar treatment or shake. Powdered sugar. Is this powder sugar from the grocery store(confectioners sugar) or something entirely different? and if so where do you get it or how to make it?

green

WayneW · September 02, 2008, 01:49:54 PM

Yes right from a grocery (confectioners sugar)

I remove my inner cover, place a window screen in its place, and shake the sugar over it. What remains on the screen i brush into the hive with my bee brush. Others use a sifter, screened pint canning jars, whatever works best, and is eaiest for you.

Careful not to get too much on the surrounding area, the wasps and yellow jackets really like that stuff too..... not that i know from personal experience or anything like that ;)

greenismycolor · September 02, 2008, 11:26:35 PM

Thanks Wayne, I had applied the sugar once already, then I read, that it is not the grocery store confectioners sugar. I was a bit worried and watched the bees, they seemed fine and loved the stuff, it was gone in a couple of days.

green

hankdog1 · September 03, 2008, 12:00:51 AM

Confectioners sugar isn't what you should be using. It has corn starch in it which is hard on the bee's gut. Put some regular granulated sugar in a food processor and spin away until it's a fine powder and use right away. You have to use it right away because the reason the corn starch is in there in the first place is to prevent it from taking on moisture out of the air and clumping. Your bees will probably be okay from the corn starch but i personally don't like to take chances with stuff like that.