Questions brought about from TwT's Mercy Removal Post

DayValleyDahlias · April 29, 2007, 10:57:46 AM

TwT's photos in his 'Mercy Removal" post fascinate me. I am curious...this looks like a very thriving colony? The bees do all the work, in other words...no foundations, external feeders, no artificial pollen, no grease patties, no antibiotics,no SBB, not in full sun...etc...

Is it unusual to find bee colonies that look so fabulous?

Just curious, hey I'm new :-D

Theories?

Jerrymac · April 29, 2007, 11:02:27 AM

Not unusual at all. They are all over the place around here. Funny how well bees do with out the help of man. You'd think they've been doing it for awhile.

Understudy · April 29, 2007, 12:01:54 PM

Yeah isn't just amazing how well bees do when we don't mess with them.

Now on the other side. Plenty of feral colonies fail also for many reasons. Many which include interference from man. But they also have to deal with mites, SHB, and other issues. However if a feral hive establishes itself well and is left undistrubed for a few years it will have cast off many swarms that are likely to be strong also.

The worst I have ever seen in a feral hive is a bad case of chaulkbrood. I have seen them with SHB and mites but never a very high count. If wax moth gets established in a weak hive there will be no hive left. So you may never really know if a feral hive was destroyed by wax moth unless you find small remant clues.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

beemaster · April 29, 2007, 12:19:08 PM

When my neighbors (three neighbors ago in that house) bought the place, they tore down all the plaster and lath walls and ceilings - it was log type joists not cut wood. In the living room they had a colony 10 feet long and about 7 joists wide - the sheer weight of honey had pulled the joists downward in a bow arch. It was amazing and thriving, the bees came through the outer wall and exited their front porch roof nearest the house, the number of flights per minute were staggering.

With the comb fully exposed, you'd think removal would be somewhat easy, but it turned out to be a near impossible task - they ended up covering the sealed honey comb with heavy sheets of plastic stapled over the joists (in hope to protect the usability of the honey) then they bug bombed the place, killing everything - ugh.

They actually washed the honey comb off and crush and strained the comb - I'm surprised they all didn't get sick or die, but none did. They salvaged dozens and dozens of gallons of milk containers worth from it. After scraping everything out, plugging the entrance, etc - 1 season later honeybees were back and refilling the space - til this day they have bees there.

Michael Bush · April 29, 2007, 03:53:34 PM

Didn't you know all the feral bees died? ;)

Understudy · April 29, 2007, 10:31:34 PM

Quote from: Michael Bush on April 29, 2007, 03:53:34 PM
Didn't you know all the feral bees died? ;)

Yes, and in Florida they were all replaced by AHB.

By the way Michael did you want me to send you some AHB and SHB so you add them to your studies.

;)

Sincerely,
Brendhan

Michael Bush · April 29, 2007, 10:43:02 PM

>By the way Michael did you want me to send you some AHB and SHB so you add them to your studies.

I'll pass...

bluegrass · April 29, 2007, 10:48:43 PM

And some people wonder why some of us do cutouts just for the bees.

Understudy · April 29, 2007, 11:03:19 PM

Quote from: bluegrass on April 29, 2007, 10:48:43 PM
And some people wonder why some of us do cutouts just for the bees.

As I have said before. I do it because it is fun. Even when I am having a bad week doing cut outs it is still fun. And this has been a bad week for me. When i get time I will post my sad stories.

Sincerely,
Brendhan