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Just found out that used coffee grounds deter ants and bees love rummaging through these early spring.

Most certain these are NOT it. These bees where the same shape and size as honeybees except they where ALL black, no stripes on abdomen at all. Almost like a mix with a carpenter bee. Just odd. ...

Turns out the original queen could not be found. There where lots of all black worker bees, wish I had pictures. These black variety where attacking my Dad anywhere in the yard. Some originals...

He's going to change things back today. We'll see...

Tell us, Ravenseye, what you're thinking about "requeening" ? Your thoughts on why ?

About 3 weeks ago my Dad switched the upper deep (filled with honey) and the lower brood box. Said it was a mess at the time. A week ago, while it was warmer he went to take a peek inside and a...

Everyone has their preferences for taste. If they don't like it, then cut it down and replace with another nectar source.

I've always seen interference as a setback. They'll manage to survive. The only things that help are to keep snow off the entrance and wind from gushing in during harsh storms.

At least around here, last winter was mild, as with much of the country. They're predicting a dry and warmer winter in the midwest. Almost all queens stop laying, yet there are a few types that...

Be careful if ordering fruit trees. I've ordered several fruiting pear trees, cherry trees and a nut tree that turned out to be a Golden Jubilee Peach tree. The pear trees turned out to be Bradford...

The Pro Smokers have the wire frame guard around it and the top wires may be bent out with pliers to make hooks.

Check to see if the problem is part of crop dusting, spraying trees and such. Driftwatch.org covers the midwestern states to let the farmers know about your hives. See if there's an equivalent in...

Easier to replace the foundation and frame. The old stuff can be burned or singed with a torch.

Heck, with that climate, doing nothing should work. The robbing should be dealt with though, don't add to the problem by feeding. Maybe an entrance reducer on all hives would help them sustain their...

Was thinking about making an outer lid heavy enough so no stones where needed on top. Maybe double/triple up the plywood on top before putting some tin/aluminum top on it ?? Would significantly...

All those ingredients sound like a chem lab mixture. Besides, they should have their own sources for winter. Sometimes best not to disturb, even though tempting to do so.

Joseph,
Is it possible to simulate rain with a cloudy day and garden sprinkler? Think that might fool them?

Turns out that I'll have to move my hives in the Spring time in the same fashion. They've likely adapted to where the path of the sun is, southward. Not sure they totally rely on sight. Thinking...

With two stomachs, a bypass valve sounds about right. Bees can't convert sugar into honey, but can use it for food (energy). Nectar is the only source that can be converted into honey. Pollen is...

Try the Mountain Camp Method. Dry white sugar on newspaper above the brood frames or on top of honey supers too.

Sounds like a good time for a study on where the sunshine is on your property. Look for the focal points and also look for nectar/pollen sources too. You're at the south end of the country it looks...

I'm going to cork them all up at night and get to it at first daylight, and unplug when all done and moved.

Try some powdered sugar on the beetles. It'll help the bees chase the bugs out into the cold.....

These quick treatments helped bring quick relief: Always carry some liquid ammonia and some vinegar also. Place a drop of ammonia on the sting after removing the stinger if applies. This will...

Some queens still produce brood during the winter, although in much smaller numbers. Orange pollen sounds a lot like the aforementioned Dandelion.