With the temperature just above freezing this morning my colleague
and friend Martin, and I set out and treated all our colonies (except 4
of mine) with Oxalic solution; part of our IPM against varroa. It was
great to get out and do some beekeeping, and also to see all our
colonies alive and well. Some colonies were tightly clustered and some
low down in their boxes, others were chomping away at their fondant as
we “cracked” open the crown boards.
The turn of the year
gives a more positive aspect and there is a light in the distance at the
end of the tunnel, so to speak. However the next couple of months are
the “classic” period for colony losses so we have to remain vigilant.
Working together we were able to treat every colony and check their
fondant, and ensure that the entrances were clear all in a matter of
seconds at every hive (and doing over 50 hives between us).
There
was a mystery at one site where two of my nuceus hives had been
“chewed” at the entrance by some creature. The bees inside seemed fine
but what attcked the entrance hole is a mystery ;
bird/woodpecker/mouse/rat/mole/badger?
Oxalic Treatment/ Predator
