Testing For Mites

I wanted to show the way I test for mites. My hives are now five and eight weeks old. I use the stickey board method. I apply a layer of cooking oil to the board that I slide into my screened hive bottom board. The idea is that the mites fall off the bees and stick to the greased board so you can get a count of mites on each square that is drawn on the board. You leave the board on the hive for three days and then you get your count. Mites in a square times the number of squares on the board divided by days which is three. A number of forty would be high on a average hive, three mediumns or two deep. After doing the test I have found no mites up to this point. Both hives seem strong.

Installing Top Entrance

A fellow beekeeper at a local meeting suggested that I read some of George Imirie"s papers he wrote on beekeeping. I have to say by reading some of his ideas on beekeeping,it will really make you think about his ideas. He suggested that by adding a top entrance,your field bees don't have to travel the length of the hive to reach the top with their stores they are bringing in. I likes the idea because it also adds ventilation for the hive in hot weather and ventilation to get rid of moisture in the winter. I took the inner covers of both hives and cut an opening in the raised rim on the cover. The opening is about the size of a postage stamp and 3/8 of an inch high. You just have to be sure the top cover is pushed forward to allow for the bees to enter and leave.

Hive Insp. Just Before First Brood

Wanted to inspect Hive Alexis before the first brood will be hatched,which will be next week some time. The brood box has seven of the ten frames fully drawn out. So I will be adding a mediumn box to the hive. This is what I want when going into winter this year. The hive has a good brood pattern and ample supply of stores. Nick got to use his new bee suit. He is a lot of help. Good at lighting smoker. The Nicholas hive is going strong, will leave it as is. Also still feeding hive Alexis sugar water. Will continue till they stop taking it.