God looks after dumb beekeepers

AllenF · August 09, 2011, 09:35:15 PM

Today I was filling oil trays, pulling one last honey super I forgot to pull last week and opening up hives and pulling a deep frame or two if the hive looked honey bound. Last week (or maybe 2 weeks ago) on one hive I opened, there were 50 to 100 SHB on the top of the inner cover that I cooked with the torch. So When I got to it, I had the torch ready. Saw 15 to 20 beetles in the corners of the inner cover and lit them up with the torch before they could get way. Set it to the side to look inside, everything was OK. Looked at the inner cover again to see if I missed any beetles and dump out the bees that died in the cross fire. Then there she was. I smoked the queen a bit. She was running around in circles with her back high in the air like a hump back. I don't know how bad she was hurt. Wings look OK but she was walking around funny to me. I set her in the hive. Finished 4 other hives in the row.

Now to the good part. Putting the last oil tray in and heard loud buzzing behind me. Looked up and there were bees all in the air. Swarm this late in the day? Followed them and they land like 8 feet off the ground. Small swarm. Size of 2 baseballs. Walked over to one of my swarm traps, and dumped them in. So if I did smoke the queen, I have a replacement. I gave them a frame of mostly uncapped honey out of the freezer and 2 frames of drawn comb so maybe they will stay.

Oblio13 · August 09, 2011, 09:37:39 PM

In my bee yard, the gods seem to be very selective in their mercies, and their wisdom is not always apparent. :-\

FRAMEshift · August 09, 2011, 09:56:13 PM

Quote from: Oblio13 on August 09, 2011, 09:37:39 PM
In my bee yard, the gods seem to be very selective in their mercies, and their wisdom is not always apparent. :-\

Best laugh I've had today! Thanks.

mushmushi · August 09, 2011, 10:00:59 PM

Can you take a picture of the SHB inside the hive ? It is slowly approaching us too :(

AllenF · August 09, 2011, 10:12:04 PM

Give me your address and I can send you some SHB. Be the first on your block to have some.

FRAMEshift · August 09, 2011, 10:36:54 PM

Quote from: AllenF on August 09, 2011, 10:12:04 PM
Give me your address and I can send you some SHB. Be the first on your block to have some.

Allen, if I remember correctly, you mentioned once that you keep your bees in the shade and still have no problem with SHB. I think you forgot to mention that you use a blowtorch on them. :-D

AllenF · August 09, 2011, 10:58:20 PM

That one hive was full of them. That one hive is also full of bees. Today I never saw more than maybe 4 or 5 beetles in any other hive. These hives were in the shade. I have one in full sun (cookin') on my back porch that I need to open tomorrow and see what is in there. Every time I opened it there were a couple of beetles in there.

sc-bee · August 10, 2011, 03:10:59 PM

Hey mush:

Here is a picture of the aftermath--- experienced first hand :( Here is a good video link by Dr. Jamie Ellis (see shb) http://www.extension.org/pages/25099/university-of-florida-bee-disease-videos

sterling · August 10, 2011, 03:38:09 PM

Keeping hives in full sun is not a cure for SHB. I have some in full sun and some with late shade. Both will have a few. I will kill them on sight with hive tool or pinch um if they are on comb.

VolunteerK9 · August 10, 2011, 06:25:25 PM

Quote from: FRAMEshift on August 09, 2011, 10:36:54 PM
Quote from: AllenF on August 09, 2011, 10:12:04 PM
Give me your address and I can send you some SHB. Be the first on your block to have some.

Allen, if I remember correctly, you mentioned once that you keep your bees in the shade and still have no problem with SHB. I think you forgot to mention that you use a blowtorch on them. :-D

Well...if a little heat was good, then alot of heat just has to be better :)

I just knew that if I kept reading you were going to say that you created a 2 deep candle when you said you hit it with a torch.

VolunteerK9 · August 10, 2011, 06:26:32 PM

Quote from: AllenF on August 09, 2011, 10:12:04 PM
Give me your address and I can send you some SHB. Be the first on your block to have some.

Yup, just think how envious all your beekeeping buddies will be of ya.

mushmushi · August 10, 2011, 06:39:02 PM

That looks bad enough.

SHB has been seen near the border with the USA as well as in the province of Ontario.

Maybe our winters will keep it away :?

rail · August 10, 2011, 08:39:03 PM

I tear the hive down to the bottom board and use tweezers to remove those nasty little SHB! I see less SHB every inspection, it's tedious but working for me.

sc-bee · August 10, 2011, 10:30:00 PM

Not trying to turn this into an shb thread but, some researchers claim frequent inspections actually aid the spread of shb. You release the corralled shb the bees have rounded up and some researchers suggest the shb go on an egg laying frenzy when disturbed.