Apiary

13 September 2015

Hive 1
Empty stand. Shall not start until I get screen bottom. Also the camphor laurel bush overshadows this area. Perhaps should be relocated in sunnier spot.

Hive 2
Newly housed swarm in one box. Good activity, just started to think about building burr. Added one box with foundations.

Hive 3
Currently 3 storeys. Some chalkbrood. Buggy entrance reducer worked as perfect shelter for hundreds of beetles. Reducer removed. Brood exists in first and third box ending up in massive burr comb with half honey half brood. Bees appear to be slightly different in top and bottom box in size and darkness. There might be possibility that two queens laying eggs in separate areas? Screen bottom and one more box must be installed ASAP.

Hive 4
Currently 2 storeys. No beetles. Young eggs present. No much working area left, should add one storey in about 2 weeks time.


5 October 2015

Hive 1
Concrete stand o be dismounted. New place will be in chicken coop. Perhaps TBH.

Hive 2
Removed entrance reducer. No activity in top(#2) box yet. It is good to replace foundations with fresh stickies. Bottom box developing ok. Later same day installed 10 fresh stickies instead of empty foundations.

Hive 3
Lousy bottom board with gap between masonite and cleat harbouring beetles.  Huge burr comb removed. Took 10 frames of honey from top box. Replaced with 10 foundations. Beetles present but seems to be under control. Queen spotted.

Hive 4
Young eggs, good larvae. Almost no beetles. Took 4 frames of honey, added another box with 10 last year stickies (dry and brittle after freezer). Placed piece of banana.

14 October 2015

Hive 3
At morning spotted few small dead SHB larvae in front of the hive along with some wax crumbles.
Installed screened bottom with diatomaceous earth. The mesh seems to be too tight. One big beetle was trying to get through and could not fit.

16 October 2015

Swarm collected from the bottlebrush tree in Sylvania. The swarm was sitting in the brunches for few weeks, has drown the comb with pollen, honey and brood! 

17 October 2015

Hive 1

Made bottom board with small oil tray at the back with metal slotted floor above trap. Installed collected swarm into position #1. Two frames are with brood comb pieces, 8 empty foundations. 

Hive 2

Lot of dead bees in front of entrance.

18 October 2015

Hive 2

Installed bottom board with medium oil tray at the back. The entire floor is galvanised metal, slotted above the trap.  

... ... ...
19 Mar 2016
Hive 1
One storey. Calm bees. Burr comb removed. Need to add another box.

Hive 2
Two storeys. Calm bees. Burr comb removed. Need to take honey next week.

Hive 3
Three storeys. No burr. Need to take honey and potentially downsize.

Hive 4.
Two storeys. No burr. Need to take honey next week.