Im new and confused

Started by samuils, March 20, 2012, 07:27:32 AM

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Intheswamp

#20
March 22, 2012, 10:23:46 AM
Thanks for your patience, Michael.  I think we do have to take into account regional locations in regards to shb.  I can see your need for adding extra boxes at one time.  Be thankful you are in an area without shb problems and don't have to deal with them.  I was out the other evening late, had done my inspections (at least to my newbee, inept ability) and was standing behind the row of hives.  It was dusk.  I noticed two or three small bugs flying in the area immediately behind two of the hives.  I caught one and sure enough, beetles trying to get into the hive at dusk.  I killed one but I know two got away (and probably some I didn't see).  :whip:

I understand proportions. :)  The hives are currently two boxes each... one with two 8-frame mediums and two hives with one 10-frame deep plus an 8-frame mediums each.  One hive started out as a single 8-frame medium, the other two started out as single 10-frame deeps.  So far I've added an 8-frame medium to each one.  I'll inspect in a day or two and see how far along they are with the added mediums (they've been drawing them out pretty good and even storing a little nectar in pollen).  I've got three more mediums to add to them if they're ready for them.

Ed
www.beeweather.com 
American blood spilled to protect the freedom and peace of people all over the world.  320,000 USA casualties in WWI, 1,076,000 USA casualties in WWII, 128,000 USA casualties in the Korean War, 211,000 casualties in the Vietnam "conflict", 57,000 USA casualties in "War on Terror".  Benghazi, Libya, 13 USA casualties. These figures don't include 70,000 MIA.  But, the leaders of one political party of the United States of America continue to make the statement..."What difference does it make?".

"We can't expect the American People to jump from Capitalism to Communism, but we can assist their elected leaders in giving them small doses of Socialism, until they awaken one day to find that they have Communism."..."The press is our chief ideological weapon." - Nikita Khrushchev

"Always go to other people's funerals, otherwise they wont come to yours." - Yogi Berra

FRAMEshift

#21
March 22, 2012, 12:39:08 PM
Intheswamp, I agree that SHB are a nasty invention.  I suspect that a major factor with SHB is the type soil you have.  Since the larvae have to go to ground to pupate, the soil type can affect the completion of their life cycle.  We have two bee yards, one in the Chapel Hill area and one north of Greensboro.  The yard that has churt soil has a few SHB.  My yard has red clay soil and I have never seen a SHB here.

It's always seemed odd to me that folks say you should put your hives in the sun to reduce SHB, but the worst SHB is in the sunniest parts of the country.   I think that's because the hottest areas also have the most sand.... like Florida and South Alabama.  So do you have sandy soil?  I'll bet that North Alabama, in the red clay piedmont belt, has less of a SHB problem.
"You never can tell with bees."  --  Winnie-the-Pooh

BlueBee

#22
March 22, 2012, 02:01:01 PM
I haven't seen SHB here (thank God), but I have never seen any bugs that just gave up living because they couldn't find a perfect place to pupate.  Wax moths will drill into anything to pupate.  If they can't drill, they simply pupate in the open.  I've raised large silk moths and tomato worms that do the same thing.  Normally that would pupate underground, but if all they have is a rubbermaid, they pupate in the bare rubbermaind.  They don't really seem to care.   

Pupae still need air to live, but it is minimum.  If the soil hypothesis holds water, maybe the clay soil + water clogs their breathing holes (spiracles) more than a sandy loam? 

Sounds like a good science fair project for some kid  :-D

Intheswamp

#23
March 22, 2012, 04:52:56 PM
FRAMEshift, I really think (from excess reading, no personal experience here being the newbee that I am) that the "full sun" recommendation is for moisture reasons.  I think that the more arid the conditions around the hive the less hospitable it appears to the adult beetles seeking a place to raise their kids.  I think that the beetles have been around long enough to know that they need a close by soil that is useable by the larvae.  I think ground moisture is also important to the beetles. 

Chert soil?  I take it is a type of sandy soil (ground up chert?).  I've heard it elsewhere that a hardpack clay is good in keeping down shb numbers.  Sandy, on the other hand, isn't so good....naturally I've got my hives in a terraced field with plenty of sandy/silty soil...probably 12-16 inch on top of clay which is plenty deep for the larvae to drill down into.  :(  I'm seriously considering ordering some nematodes to treat the area with.

I've got my hives spaced four feet apart so there won't be much shade except for directly beneath the hives.  And full sun just about all day long.  I've got an area where we set a mobile home up for my mother-in-law that has just a small layer of topsoil over clay (used the rest to build the mobile home pad)...just don't think she'd like a bunch of bee hives in her backyard.  :lol:

BlueBee, I hope you don't ever have to deal with the beetles...and I'm saying this having dealt with them only a small amount so far.  But from listening to others...they're killers.  As for the wax moths, have you tried Bt to protect your hives and combs?  I'm treating all of my frames and woodenware...figured I'd start out with spores available and see how they do. 

I don't think it's thing about clogging the shb's breathing but it's actual ability to burrow down into the soil...if it's to tight/hard then it has trouble and seeks softer ground.  I may be mistaken on this but that is what I understand.

Definitely would make a good science project!!!

Ed

www.beeweather.com 
American blood spilled to protect the freedom and peace of people all over the world.  320,000 USA casualties in WWI, 1,076,000 USA casualties in WWII, 128,000 USA casualties in the Korean War, 211,000 casualties in the Vietnam "conflict", 57,000 USA casualties in "War on Terror".  Benghazi, Libya, 13 USA casualties. These figures don't include 70,000 MIA.  But, the leaders of one political party of the United States of America continue to make the statement..."What difference does it make?".

"We can't expect the American People to jump from Capitalism to Communism, but we can assist their elected leaders in giving them small doses of Socialism, until they awaken one day to find that they have Communism."..."The press is our chief ideological weapon." - Nikita Khrushchev

"Always go to other people's funerals, otherwise they wont come to yours." - Yogi Berra

BlueBee

#24
March 22, 2012, 05:16:07 PM
OK, if the beetles must have the right kind of soil to pupate in to live in a given area (I'm skeptical), then why not use top entrances on all your hives to make it much harder for the SHB larvae to get out of the hive and into the soil?  That would seem like a no brainer to me.  What am I missing here?

Intheswamp

#25
March 22, 2012, 05:43:25 PM
From what Russell over in Mississippi told me they climb quiet well.  Plus, we'd also have to use solid bottom boards to keep them in.

Ed
www.beeweather.com 
American blood spilled to protect the freedom and peace of people all over the world.  320,000 USA casualties in WWI, 1,076,000 USA casualties in WWII, 128,000 USA casualties in the Korean War, 211,000 casualties in the Vietnam "conflict", 57,000 USA casualties in "War on Terror".  Benghazi, Libya, 13 USA casualties. These figures don't include 70,000 MIA.  But, the leaders of one political party of the United States of America continue to make the statement..."What difference does it make?".

"We can't expect the American People to jump from Capitalism to Communism, but we can assist their elected leaders in giving them small doses of Socialism, until they awaken one day to find that they have Communism."..."The press is our chief ideological weapon." - Nikita Khrushchev

"Always go to other people's funerals, otherwise they wont come to yours." - Yogi Berra

Jim134

#26
March 22, 2012, 08:21:06 PM
Is this not the topic


Quote from: samuils on March 20, 2012, 07:27:32 AM
Hi, as mentioned Im new and confused about space for bees.  I am looking at some 8 frame medium hives, it says it has 2 supers.  Is it enough? I am getting a package 3lb soon.

Also, how do I tell when to add supers?  I am so worried  :(

While Im on the subject does anyone have a link where I can buy a CD that would maybe walk me through step by step?

Thank you in advance 

Not SHB,wax moths or am I confused 
:stayontopic:


   BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)
"Tell me and I'll forget,show me and I may  remember,involve me and I'll understand"
        Chinese Proverb

"The farmer is the only man in our economy who buys everything at retail, sells everything at wholesale, and pays the freight both ways."
John F. Kennedy
Franklin County Beekeepers Association MA. http://www.franklinmabeekeepers.org/
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