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Since I started in 2007, I never once treated my bees for anything. Helps when you start with stock that isn't treated for mites either (Bee Weaver). Haven't lost a single hive to pestilence. And...

I have never tested for mites, never treated for mites, and never lost a hive to mites. I don't even think about them.

My father took a photo of this japonica swarm. Successfully hived.

Our blog: http://bees.arthurwestover.com/
...

Hived a swarm yesterday from my backyard.

I seriously doubt leaving it out in the sun will kill the wax moth larvae.

Stick them in the deep freeze for a few days. That will kill them.

these are my father's old crappy supers that don't even have box joints. And the wood is super old and moving towards rotten. I'm thinking that Michael's suggestion might be the best in that case.

I have some old supers where the joints are mobile. Meaning that it is no longer a rigid box. More like an accordion. Still using them and haven't noted any functional problems. They have the...

If no SHB were a prerequisite to buying bees in Texas, no one would have any bees to buy. My hives all have SHB. But they are healthy and fine.

One variable is whether they are stolen or not. :) My thinking is that is a very low price.

I think in general you want to know how healthy the hive is. I can't explain in one post what it...

Built it with the 1x6 ripped to 5 inches wide.
http://i1047.photobucket.com/albums/b477/bee_art/jig.jpg

Planning to make this jig. http://robo.bushkillfarms.com/downloads/beekeeping/FrameAssemblyJig.pdf

It calls for wood that is 5 inches in width, but the 1x6s I bought are 5 1/2 inches in width. ...

I just got the Maxant 3100p, still have my old hand-powered Dadant. Of course my wife wants me to get rid of the old one. But I'm a pack rat, and I like to hold onto things. Anyone get rid of...

I just received one of these new. Is the best way to take off the motor housing to get to the basket:

1. remove two bolts that attach center metal plate from the cylinder.
2. loosen hex bolt...

my father's bees up and killed his couple of chickens when the tractor was placed right next to the hive.

my father's recent updates and pics from Japan...
our shared blog:

http://bees.arthurwestover.com/

I have a hand-powered dadant, but would probably buy a 3100P if they go on sale!

Had a small hive at friend's house last season that got very weak come late fall due to the drought down here. And then I had my friend feed it syrup, it got raided by another hive and killed off. ...

japonica cutout placed in langstroth style hives...
http://bees.arthurwestover.com/?p=399

I now have fountains going in my backyard and frontyard, and emptied the neighbor's fountain last night.

They were okay with 20 or 30 bees at a time, but now they feel overwhelmed with the...

things that will make your hive more aggressive:
1. something is stirring it up (like an animal)
2. dearth (i.e. now)
3. queen superceded
4. robbing

We are in the midst of a fierce heatwave/drought in Texas, and my neighbors, previously okay with my bees frequenting their backyard water fountain, are now being overwhelmed with 100 bees at a time...

depends. could be 2 weeks. Or might not happen until the fall. Hive strength, hive genetics, flow. You know the flow is going on when you take a look at the super and say "wow, that was fast." ...

My understanding is that apis m. do not do all that well in Japan. It takes a lot of TLC to keep the hives going according to reports from my father who has talked to beekeepers in Japan.

I'm...

I believe japonica is highly resistent to Varroa, having evolved with it. Isn't varroa thought to have arrived in the US from some kind of Asian importation/infestation? So I'm fairly certain that...

further updates on a.c. japonica will be on me and my father's bee blog. I think my father is hoping for some conversation and feedback, so comments/questions welcome.