Varroa Treatment

Due to the elections yesterday (this is my excuse) got home later than expected and missed MrB coming by to do the varroa mite treatment part 2. Luckily he is on holiday this week as are MrsB and Angie. 'He came by this evening at 7:00 to try again. As it was getting dark, they were quieter but still quite upset with the constant wasp invasion attempts. Despite this MrB went ahead without any protective gear apart from plastic disposable gloves due to the formic acid.

We could remove the sugar paste wrapping from the best developed colony and lay the dishwashing sponge directly on the combs and then spread a portion of the acid on it to eveaporate over the next 24 hours. This vapour should knock out the mites without any serious effect to the bees.

On the middle hive, there was still quite some sugar paste to be worked on so had to find a corner to lay the sponge on. Not ideal but no choice.

On the offspring hive, MrB was able to release the sugar solution bucket which is actually 3/4 used and push it to one side allowing enough space for the sponge.

The bee year is slowing, I need to organise (field) mouse barriers but apart from the occasional inspection don't think there is much more to be done. Apart from defending the hives against wasps, some of the bees are getting out and about and it was as always great to see them in the forest and in the garden as I pottered around tidying up tall flowers and hedges on this beautiful sunny 20°C day.

I am having thoughts about trying to build a bee hive house as shown yesterday. I had anway planned to bring the hives in to the garden about 5 meters from where they now are, as I could then better look after them if we have a lot of snow (need to keep the entrance snow free) and I could perhaps offer better cold protection particularly to the offspring hive which may be a little underpopulated.