Two days work.

[sqkcrk]

snl, a hive tool, the hooked end. I guess you could call it that if you wish.

[hpm08161947]

Mark... is MacDonald the "Senior" beekeeper that we discussed one time. I believe we were wondering if we could keep bees at that age?

[sqkcrk]

Yes, he is 72. And CK just had his 60th today.

[snl]

And CK just had his 60th today.

Thanks Mark...........caught that "CK" part and sent a message wishing him well.........

Larry

[odfrank]

What's shb?

Charlie will find out soon enough, they are 20 miles south of him. But not very many, yet.

[Charlie B]

Charlie will find out soon enough, they are 20 miles south of him. But not very many, yet.

Do you have them there Ollie?

[odfrank]

They got to San Jose several years ago and I saw them in Palo Alto and Atherton two years ago. None in Monte Sereno. They like rich lowland soils. I had damage early this year I forget where.You might be safe on your cold chilly rooftop.

[Charlie B]

I have 5 hives in San Jose, so far so good.

[The Honey Householder]

Mark looks like a great crop for you guys up the NE. Hopeing for rain to keep the flow going here.

[sqkcrk]

Well HH that is only 4 yds in one northern county of NY. Much of the rest of the State is really dry and not as productive. I'll find out how much I can take from my own hives next week.

[BMAC]

Yes so I can attest to the dry and not productive part. Though I am taking the opportunity now to build all new lids for my operation and will be setting out first mite treatment in a week or so after I pull the couple of gallons of honey I actually got this summer.

[sqkcrk]

what are you using? I got some MAQS to try out.

[BMAC]

I considered MAQS, and Hop Guard. MAQS is one of the most expensive and I decided to go with Apiguard. It costs more than Hop Guard and less than MAQS. I have used Apiguard when living in Kansas City area with execellent results. Hop Guard just seems like a PITA as you have to put 2 strips per box. Maybe thats a good treatment in Spring just before they come home. Do you have to break the boxes apart to treat with MAQS?

Not to derail but you going to the picnic Saturday?

[sqkcrk]

I sure will. Going to be there friday to help set up. Gotta Directors meeting to attend Saturday morning and gotta be there to see Jim Tew, my college Professor. Are you going?

Greak the boxes apart? They have a tab to remove in order to open them. I don't know what to do w/ the empty bucket. I guess I'm going to have to air it out for a while and put it in a plastic bag for the trash man to haul away. Too much plastic.

[BMAC]

I should be there on Saturday.

You dont have to put the MAQS in both upper and lower bee boxes?

I guess the pitfall of using Apiguard is you need a rim for everything. However these new lids I am making have a build in 1/2 in rim. Which I know they will burr the heck out of it but I dont really care about that.

Hey I finally got a microscope and started my own Nosema checks. I spent a bit of time with Lynn last week in his queen yard with it.

[beemandan]

Hop Guard just seems like a PITA as you have to put 2 strips per box.

Basically, as I’ve interpreted the instructions, it’s a strip per five frames of bees. This time of year, in my double deep hives that’s four strips. Plus…you need three treatments to be effective. At $.60/strip, $2.40/treatment and $7.20/ hive…it is expensive and a major PITA. But then Apiguard requires two treatments…so while not nearly as expensive is a PITA too.

I guess the pitfall of using Apiguard is you need a rim for everything.

When I’ve bought Apiguard in bulk, I simply plopped the serving onto the card they supplied. Didn’t need a rim. Now if you’re using the nice little (expensive) foil covered containers….then, yes a rim is needed.

[jim lyon]

I use one of these for $1.25 and "chase" it with an oxalic dribble a month later.http://www.members.shaw.ca/orioleln/thymol.html# I think Apiguard is an excellent product works well between boxes in a double but we have flat lids and lots of singles and they will just propolize the Apiguard when used in that manner. The thymomite strips, on the other hand, are so easy to use but as with any thymol or Formic treatment results are really temperature dependent.

[BMAC]

Jim great link. Are you making your own thymomite strips or buying them?

[sqkcrk]

.
You dont have to put the MAQS in both upper and lower bee boxes?

The guy I got them from was putting one pad on below a medium super, usually on just one deep of brood. We pulled the excluders.

[benstung]

I have been using MAQS for 2 seasons now and have found it effective.(kind of)
We use one pad on every hive, once in the spring and once in the late summer. i like to put the pad on the top of 2 deeps towards the back.
It is very important not to treat when its too hot.
I have found that any temps over 75 can slow em down a bit.
Also hives with old queens can take a hit.
If the grass in front of the entrance is yellow and dying than you know the formic is circulating through out the hive.


Nothing really works that good tho, so good luck