Hive Check

I was a bit concerned about the wasps so as it was sunny with little wind, thought I would take a look in the hives.

Was OK, no sign of wasps inside but they are flying about all the time. Have posted photos of the three hives on Flickr and need MrB to check them out. As far as I can see:

Hive1 (offspring) : looks fine. still only 3/4 built out. Sugar bucket firmly glued to the combs but I am sure it still contains a great amount.

Hive2 (middle-green) about 5/6 built out. Still lots of sugar paste.

Hive 3: 11/12 built out. Less sugar paste than in middle hive but still some work to be done. The Blip is the close up of the inside front wall (above the entrance) I can't work out what the groups of bees are up to!? The albino bee flying through the middle of the photograph is hopefully an effect caused by the sun and not the start of an Arian race of super bees!

I am by the way testing MrB by using English fractions rather than decimals. I hope he can convert them!

I know MrB wants to do the second varroa mite treatment soon. Today I read a number of articles in the Guardian online newspaper about bees/beekeeping. They seem to have a lot on offer as one of the editors is Alison Benjamin who has written several bee books. One of the articles quotes an article in the Telegraph showing research from Sussex university which suggests oxalic acid treatment is best done in vapour form.

Guardian also refers to webcam of a bee hive near here in Bavaria.