Small time beekeeper in the Northern California. Just released a swarm queen with brood into a queenless hive. I'm just amazed when I watch the swarm march into the hive to join their queen. Also the teamwork to move the leaf down the ramp and out of the way!

Maybe we can share tips for our problems. I'll start: keeping my tools reachable whenever I'm working in a hive.

Sc, first year. Two hives. Sorry if this was already recently discussed.

This was the outcome that I built this weekend. Forgot to snap som pictures of the isolated top and thermofoil on the inside... unfortunately.

The mistake i think I made was using to thin planks, I used 22×70 mm and the box sides measure about 45 mm. The thermofoil goes out to the edges of the lower side box. Afterwards I should of used 45×70..

I wonder if the sides planks are to thin?

Norrbotten sweden

Would you? How? I don’t have much drawn brood comb so I’m worried they have enough time to get new comb drawn out. I’m also worried about keeping the internal temp warm enough for the brood. Nighttime temps have been dipping down into the upper 50’s. Does this colony have a better chance of surviving the winter by staying put? Or by me managing them? Goldenrod is past peak so they won’t have much to forage on, so I’ll start feeding and probably provide a pollen patty.

I live 60 miles from the Jamestown settlement in Virginia. My bees are from a local swarm. Is it possible my bees have some ancestry from those original bees? Even if it is 1%? Those were said to be what they call "German black bees". Where could I have my bees tested?

I read that the first bees were from 1622 but the first successful apiary didn't happen until 1648. I wonder why it took so long?

I removed my honey supers today and now there is a 8 frame deep and two mediums. Bees are pouring out everywhere! Also bearding (it’s hot today). They look so crowded. Is it okay to leave them like this going in to winter. Also I have to treat for mites. Can I use the strips now or is it too late? I am in Michigan. I am a second summer beekeeper. This is my first year harvesting honey

Ahoy folks, I'm located in Nova Scotia, Canada, and am wondering what the 'zone' map looks like for determining what BK Zone you're in?

I've seen folks referencing "6B" in Northern Ontario, but when I look at a Honey Bee Forage map from NASA, they show that as being either Region 9 or Region 14. I'm theoretically region 13 according to this site:

Honey Bee Forage Map

What map and zone should I actually bee in?

Thanks,

NS

---Update---

Got some feedback - looks like I'm Zone 6b, and the is based on the Plant Hardiness Zones Map.

Thanks!

Hello,

Just wondering for other beekeepers in northern part of zone 6a Ontario or others who have hives in similar/same climates when do you finally take your supers off for the winter?

It's rained quite a bit for the last 2 weeks so there's been only minimal progress done on the most recent super I put on but I'm thinking it's time to pull and harvest.

It's not a math question and I'm not a beekeper, but I really need the answer (I'm also not stealing beehives). What size of car trailer, without hiring a truck?

North Texas

2 of my 6 hives have a singular frame like this- tons of drone brood at an odd pattern. Both of these hives are very populous and have tons of honey stored and we do have a mild flow of Snow of the Prairie coming in. In each hive, the rest of the frames are normal in regard to brood pattern.

One of the hives with this frame has 8/10 frames being used with the outer two frames completely undrawn but with rolled wax on the frame. It also has a super with drawn comb that they could be using, but are not at all. No QE. So besides a big population and honey stored, they have a good bit of space they aren’t using. Saw Queen and regular brood. No queen/swarm cells seen.

The other hive that has this same frame had 10/10 frames being used. So I pulled two frames of pure honey and put those into a weaker hive, then gave this hive two frames with empty but drawn foundation for extra space to lay/store. Queen is also present. No Queen/swarm cells seen.

Had 6 mites In wash for both, so I will be treating here soon going into fall. Temps are still 100+ so my options are fewer.

Should I be taking any more actions to prevent a late season swarm? Or is this even swarm sign at all? Just pretty bizarre to me given that they should be kicking drones out of the hive here soon anyway.

Thanks for the input! No

Hello, I'm a second year beekeeper in the UK.

Just over a month ago I had some surgery that put me out of action for a number of weeks, so to prepare I took off two completely full supers and popped 3 new ones on, with the hope that my bees will have plenty to do while I was away, and plenty of expansion space.

I wrapped the supers in pallet wrap and popped them behind my kitchen bench until I would be able to get to my BKAs extraction facility.

This last week I've noticed an absolutely insane amount of moths around the house and it today dawned on me that they were wax moths. I pulled the bench out and found a river of honey on the floor with dead moths and a tonne of frass.

Going to unwrap and inspect tomorrow but am I looking at two supers of waste now? My plan is to see if any frames are untouched and wrap them individually, then probably melt down and discard the really messed up ones?

Would love any advice if anyone has any experience or knowledge, it's completely new to me and it's pretty heartbreaking.

Western NY, I have built two top bar hives. The first one has three entrance/exit holes horizontally aligned like I have seen on most YouTube videos.

What about two at top of hive and two below? Two heights and two landing platforms. I Am thinking for ventilation but still allowing them to clean out the hive from a bottom hole.

Thoughts?

I also use corks to close holes when necessary.