S.o.s

[Rob7]

I am on the island of Guanaja---One of the Bay Islands of Honduras. Unlike most of Central America, the bees here are not africanized. The only problem is that there aren't many bees period. There haven't been since Hurricane Mitch 10 years ago. I came to help rebuild the population here but I had no idea how hard it would be. When I got here a few people already had bought nucleus colonies from a neighboring island Roatan. I am not sure if those had laying queens, i know they werent fed when they were installed and I know they didnt put enough frames in so when i got here the comb was a diagonal mess. From the 6 or 7 hives bought several absonded. two hives remain. They are foraging and bringing in nectar. THe problem is I have no way to make more queens from two fragile hives. I am told they naturally swarm in March so I can harvest queen cells (if the hives are doing well) at that time. Basically two hives is barely a foot in the door for increase capabilities. I wish I was in the states and could order a few queens and a few pounds of bees to get our stocks started. But alas, I am on this island where it would take lots of time to get anything shipped here. The original person we bought the bees from only has a dozen hives himself and is spread thin and not anxious to gives us more nucs (if that's what they were) I heard a different person on that neighboring island is trying to sell boxes of queenless bees for $100 US! That's a bad scam. Does anyone have any thoughts? I can't graft or make a starter from two hives that have only filled up half a brood chamber. ill be lucky if they make it to March when they should make queen cells. So I got the ideal island I just need some bees to start. This is truly a great opportunity. I'm not sure what the bees eat here but they have plenty of food, freshwater, and far enough from the africanized bees on the Honduran coast.

[Ross]

I would feed, feed, feed to build them up. Then I would order a Jenter or similar kit. Talk to some of the dive resorts and contact some US divers coming down. Someone can bring it to you. You might even be able to get some queens as far as Roatan that way. If we can get them into the country, I might even bring some down. I love to dive.

[tecumseh]

rob 7 writes:
Does anyone have any thoughts? I can't graft or make a starter from two hives that have only filled up half a brood chamber. ill be lucky if they make it to March when they should make queen cells.

tecumseh:
how far are you from Belize?

like ross suggested... feed... or perhaps I should say dribble. you will need boomer hives to accomplish much of anything.

you don't have to know how to graft. you could rear queen using a non grafting method... reference jay smith's technique (on michael bush web site I am told) or the miller method, there is another variation of this called the case method. about the only tool you need for any of the above is a good pocket knife.

[BerkeyDavid]

I agree, right now just feed feed feed and get them built up.

Then we will all take turns coming down and graft for you!

Need an overall plan, personally I would get a VSH breeder queen and consider requeening all the remaining hives on the island as well.

Also you need to start charting your nectar flows.

Finally, you need an agreement with the other beekeepers.

I would like to come down next February, by then you should have enough bees for us to really rock and roll.:)

I went to Google Map guanaja http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl and found the island, it looks like a perfect place to me.

[Ross]

I think February is a good month for whale sharks. Maybe I'll join you.

[Jonathan Hofer]

I guess, with a small bee population, you also need to be concerned with inbreeding on the island. This could be a small hint to why the bees aren't building up as expected.

[Rob7]

inbreeding was a concern of mine...here i am managing the only two hives on the island and i am wondering where and by whom this queen is going to get impregenated. will she mate with drones that came in the original nuc with her? i know she has to do it outside the hive.

and about the grafting, i know how to graft i just am not in the position to create starters and neither hive could be considered a finisher. only two hives just starting to build up. a jenter kit eliminates grafting but you still need strong hives. i need more queens and bees before i can do it on my own.

there are direct flights from Houston to Roatan (the neighboring island) I am looking into ordering packages from Texas that way if I can work out the customs, dept. of agriculture stuff. I was advised to look into Weaver Apiaries. Might be worth a walk down the beach to find a phone signal and see if they can send internationally.

[Hobie]

*deleted* Never mind. misread the post...

[BerkeyDavid]

Rob
No disrespect to the Weavers, but you have a little piece of heaven there when it comes to Bee Breeding. I would seriously consider making contact with some of the heavy hitters, such as Marla Spivak, Gary Reuter, Joe Latshaw, Sue Cobey or Greg Hunt and see if they have any interest in setting up some experiments / breeding programs BEFORE bringing in any more stock.

I wouldn't be surprised if they would give you some quality queens free.