So I am moving onto a old family farm that hasn't been touched in 10 years. On the property are two "bee boxes", and I have been doing a little reading to see if it is something I would like to take up. Before I buy anything, I would like to see if there is anything to salvage from the old hive.
What is the safest and most economical way to take a look and see what I have? When I looked at them the other day, there was a live bee that crawled into the top. I am near St. Louis Mo if weather is a factor.
When I go back, I am going to try to see if I can ID the type, and take a more educated look.
How can everyone tell that these are "survivor" bees and not a swarm that moved in last year?. How do we know this hive hasn't "died" every year and a new swarm hasn't moved in to replace them?
You cannot tell if they were there for years or just moved in. However, they made it through the winter in either case without beekeeper intervention, and they cost only the effort of getting them into a decent hive. Much cheaper (and at this point, much more available) than a package.
Peter: Thanks for the detailed reply, sounds like a plan. After getting in there, I knew the frames and probably supers are done. I'm going to buy a smoker and a deep with frames for the next step. Hopefully they except the nice new addition!
Eddie: That crossed my mind a few times. They have an empty hive 4' away. I assume they may have moved around a few times over the years.
I'm going to start a new thread once the new stuff is in place..
Wax moths will eat all the brood comb, but the bees will clean out the mess and re-occupy the space with no problems. The hive beetles will vanish once the food is gone, and the bees will move right back in.
Even if the hive was not occupied continuously, the bees were from a good hive that swarmed, so they are still desirable bees to my mind.
And they didn't cost much, eh?
At least until you start making or buying hives, anyway.
So it has been a while. I added a deep on top of the old hive hopeing they would move up. I left them alone and got busy with the garden until today. To my surprise the new frames are +60% drawn and they were busy building.
They built a little on the bottom of the frames. Should i scrape that off or leave it alone. I also thought i had shb but between lids were some roach sized ones. Any input is appreciated.
Thanks!
Edit: I talk to the neighbor and he told me a lot of info. The property is registered with some bee group, and showed me a photo from the 20s of a guy with a hive in the same spot.
I get roaches (I call them tree roaches) in hives that space their population can't defend. No biggie but make sure the hive is on the growth upswing not downswing. As the hive increases in population they'll give those roaches the boot. You may want to move the hive to full sun to lessen the attractiveness for SHB's. SHB's seem to love hives in full shade.
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Beesource Beekeeping Forums
1.8M posts
54.7K members
Since 1999
A forum community dedicated to beekeeping, bee owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about breeding, honey production, health, behavior, hives, housing, adopting, care, classifieds, and more!