Back to Brazil....

[newbee101]

I am leaving Wednesday for Rio de Janeiro, my third visit in 4 years. I am going back to see the same beekeeper I met on my last trip. For those who never saw last years pictures, heres a link. I will be bringing my camera of course.
http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php?topic=4368.0

[Understudy]

I am leaving Wednesday for Rio de Janeiro, my third visit in 4 years. I am going back to see the same beekeeper I met on my last trip. For those who never saw last years pictures, heres a link. I will be bringing my camera of course.
http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php?topic=4368.0

I remember your last visit.
You beekeeper raised Afrikans. So I want to give you alist of questions for your wife to translate.

1. Does he have a problem with swarms?

2. What are the plants around his hives?

3. When is the best time of year for harvasting?

4. How does he get his queens? I am assuming he raises and harvests his own queens. I am curious as to how he does it.

5. How many brood chambers does he run on a standard hive?

6. Does he ever have overheating problems with his hives?

7. What pest and predators are a problem for his hives?

Well that is all I can think of for now. No cheating give these to your wife and have her translate.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

[mpjourdan]

Wow, interesting pictures, take lots this time too.  Make sure your wife goes with to the apiary this time so you don't miss anything in conversation, tell her its for the educational benifit of thousands back home.  Find out about propolis and pollen trapping and take pictures if the traps are any different than ours.  That must be a simple, peaceful ifestyle, commuting on a bicyle to work honeybees, maybe its a pretty hard life compared to our comforts but its got to have its benifits.  Have a good trip, I'm sure you'll  see more than the average tourist that goes down there.

[newbee101]

Understudy, I'm printing out your questions to take with me.

Wow, interesting pictures, take lots this time too.

I got the camera packed away!

[empilolo]

very interesting. Looks very similar to how beekeepers operate here. Rudimentary equipment, same here. Although our "school" uses very very little smoke.

I also would like to have answers to Understudy's questions. Regarding the question about pests, the most bothersome one we have here (at present) in West Africa is the Wax Moth. We are presently testing the effect of Moth traps in some of our apiaries. Recipe here

http://www.beeworks.com/informationcentre/wax_moth.html

Your Brazilian friend might be interested (translated, just the recipe).

Have a nice trip.

@ Understudy

very interesting. Looks very similar to how beekeepers operate here. Rudimentary equipment, same here. Although our "school" uses very very little smoke.

I also would like to have answers to Understudy's questions. Regarding the question about pests, the most bothersome one we have here (at present) in West Africa is the Wax Moth. We are presently testing the effect of Moth traps in some of our apiaries. Recipe here

http://www.beeworks.com/informationcentre/wax_moth.html

Your Brazilian friend might be interested (translated, just the recipe).

Have a nice trip.

@ Understudy

6. Does he ever have overheating problems with his hives?

your climate should be similar, at least in summer. I myself was concerned about heat/humidity, but the bees do not seem to be bothered much. I have hardly seen them fanning.

[KONASDAD]

In addition to Understud's questions...

How much Honey does a hive typically make?
Does he have to use african bees?

[Jerrymac]

Does he have to use african bees?

He is in Brazil. South America. Where our African bees migrated from. About all they have down there is AHB.