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This is my second summer to keep. Last summer I started with 1 colony. They made it through the winter, but by spring the colony was not queen- right. I replaced with a new package and queen(Russian) and added an additional colony (Italian).
Both colonies seemed to thrive however, upon inspection about 3 weeks in, the Italian colony appeared to have a poor pattern of cells and they seemed to be drone cells. By that time, I could not locate the queen and noticed small white lavrae at the entrance to the hive. That colony did not survive.
I've also noticed, most recently (this week) that there are a few hive beetles in the boxes.
The other (Russian) colony seems to be doing well. I've added a queen excluder and additonal hive body about 3 weeks ago. The bees are building out the comb and busy filling it with honey. Those bees are washboarding as we speak. It's well after dark and they're still at it!
I noticed earwigs in the cover of the Russian colony.
In addition, of the few frames of honey I took this spring from the colony I had (yes, they still had plenty) I've noticed some wax moth. I do not have freezer space to freeze them.
OK, up until now, I've used no chemicals. the only thing I've done is used crisco patties last fall.
I want to treat for what I see but also for prevention. I really want to see this colony survive the winter.
Any advise is helpful. Do I treat now? Do I wait until I've taken any honey?
Is there a standard preventive program that you use? I prefer obviously to do this as non-chemically as possible.
Thanks in advance for any help.
Both colonies seemed to thrive however, upon inspection about 3 weeks in, the Italian colony appeared to have a poor pattern of cells and they seemed to be drone cells. By that time, I could not locate the queen and noticed small white lavrae at the entrance to the hive. That colony did not survive.
I've also noticed, most recently (this week) that there are a few hive beetles in the boxes.
The other (Russian) colony seems to be doing well. I've added a queen excluder and additonal hive body about 3 weeks ago. The bees are building out the comb and busy filling it with honey. Those bees are washboarding as we speak. It's well after dark and they're still at it!
I noticed earwigs in the cover of the Russian colony.
In addition, of the few frames of honey I took this spring from the colony I had (yes, they still had plenty) I've noticed some wax moth. I do not have freezer space to freeze them.
OK, up until now, I've used no chemicals. the only thing I've done is used crisco patties last fall.
I want to treat for what I see but also for prevention. I really want to see this colony survive the winter.
Any advise is helpful. Do I treat now? Do I wait until I've taken any honey?
Is there a standard preventive program that you use? I prefer obviously to do this as non-chemically as possible.
Thanks in advance for any help.