Beekeeping

[drumminj]

I need to figure out how to select for dragonfly-resistant bees as well while I'm at it. We have a bunch of them around our pond and garden, and a few that like to hang out by the hives.

This is the first time we've observed a bee getting eaten.

 

[ponytug]

I need to figure out how to select for dragonfly-resistant bees as well while I'm at it. We have a bunch of them around our pond and garden, and a few that like to hang out by the hives.

This is the first time we've observed a bee getting eaten.

View attachment 3581159

How about some purple Martin bird houses or nesting ledges for swallows? What kind of fish do you have in your pond?

All the best,

Peter

 

[drumminj]

How about some purple Martin bird houses or nesting ledges for swallows? What kind of fish do you have in your pond?

All the best,

Peter

Dragonflies eat wasps from what I read, so I'm not sure I want to get rid of them? Always hard to evaluate who's a net positive in the ecosystem!

Just fathead minnows in the pond b/c it's small - about 1/10th acre or so. Could probably support a few bluegill or redear sunfish but I'm happy just to have the minnows in there eating mosquito larvae.

We did throw a grass carp in there last fall to address the excess vegetation. Not seem him in a while so unsure whether he survived winter.

 

[ponytug]

Yes, it is all an ecosystem, isn't it?

Turtles would prey on some of the minnows, but will feed on dragonfly larvae.

Purple martins do feed on wasps as well, although they are said to pick off drones on occasion. They tend to go after higher flying insects, so generally bees aren't a major component of the diet, but if it were me, I wouldn't put the purple martin house close to the hive area.

All the best,

Peter

 

[wmfamily]

I need to figure out how to select for dragonfly-resistant bees as well while I'm at it. We have a bunch of them around our pond and garden, and a few that like to hang out by the hives.

This is the first time we've observed a bee getting eaten.

View attachment 3581159

That is a robber fly, a different insect from a dragonfly.

Asilidae - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[drumminj]

That is a robber fly, a different insect from a dragonfly.

Asilidae - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Thanks for clarifying. My g/f took the photo and I just assumed the wings didn't get captured for some reasons...

But...looks like the robber fly eats bees AND dragonflies?!?! I'm going to have to spend more time insect-watching at the garden this summer for sure.

 

[drumminj]

Yes, it is all an ecosystem, isn't it?

Turtles would prey on some of the minnows, but will feed on dragonfly larvae.

We have box turtles all over the property but I've not seen any water-based turtles. There are several types of frogs and salamanders in there though. And hawks that eat the turtles. And a blue heron that comes by every so often...

Honestly it's fun to observe it all.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Got my last three hives placed tonight.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Moved my last 4 colonies yesterday. Here is one of the swarms. The queen is laying in every open cell. I love the look of new comb.

 

[ponytug]

Gorgeous looking comb!

On the subject of new comb, or rather comb in general, when you decide to harvest honey from a hive, how do you choose the comb(s)? Do you have queen excluders?

All the best,

Peter

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Gorgeous looking comb!

On the subject of new comb, or rather comb in general, when you decide to harvest honey from a hive, how do you choose the comb(s)? Do you have queen excluders?

All the best,

Peter

I never use queen excluders. The queen chooses to raise brood where temps and ventilation are optimal. I don't want to restrict that.

We harvest in early October, when the last nectar flow is over.

Bees will store excess honey in combs that do not contain brood. Any frame that has open cells for brood, are left in the box. After that, we leave additional frames of honey to equal about 30 pounds per hive for winter stores.

Our bees only eat honey, never sugar. They live in these hives just like they would in nature.

 

[ponytug]

Thanks!

Sorry for all the questions: how do you estimate the 30lbs? Eyeball the frames for brood vs honey areas and go from there?

All the best,

Peter

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Thanks!

Sorry for all the questions: how do you estimate the 30lbs? Eyeball the frames for brood vs honey areas and go from there?

All the best,

Peter

An average full honey frame has 8 pounds of honey in it. Each winter nest frame has about a 2lb band at the top. I've learned this over the years. So I multiply the brood nest frames by (2)... Then leave full frames of honey until I reach 30 pounds

 

[Torvy]

I'm not sure why, but apparently July is when we will extract honey. Depending on production, she may take more in late fall.

The goal is to let them feed themselves, but she has given them sugar. It makes no sense to me, but bees are her thing.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

I'm not sure why, but apparently July is when we will extract honey. Depending on production, she may take more in late fall.

The goal is to let them feed themselves, but she has given them sugar. It makes no sense to me, but bees are her thing.

That is how Langstroth beekeepers are mentored. It was a practice started wayyyback by commercial beekeepers to make more profit. Take the honey, feed them sugar. Langstroth beehives themselves were created for commercial/profit beekeeping. The cultural practices followed into non commercial beekeeping.
Bees also store sugar they are fed, so, the honey extracted isn’t pure honey, but some amalgamation of honey and refined sugar.
There are reasons I have never been to a local beekeepers meeting, they don’t like our kind, we ask too many questions.

 

[drumminj]

There are reasons I have never been to a local beekeepers meeting, they don’t like our kind, we ask too many questions.

This is also why I haven't sought a mentor. I suspect I would be 'fired' as a mentee pretty quickly as I'm not very good at being dogmatic.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

This is also why I haven't sought a mentor. I suspect I would be 'fired' as a mentee pretty quickly as I'm not very good at being dogmatic.

I have a couple friends that go... But I don't know why. All of the cultural practices they tout run contrary to what the bees do naturally... And these friends of mine don't use those practices. I suppose, it's a good way to introduce a different view point that some never consider. Like... Why do you harvest before a dearth? . That's like emptying your silo before a famine comes, and choosing to eat crickets instead. But millions of people never ask "why".
Lots of curious things. Yes. Dogma. I learn a lot from my bees... They are not learning anything from me, for sure.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Most beekeepers used to use skeps, which allowed the bees to draw comb naturally. Like they do in the wild.

They are now outlawed in most states because you can't inspect the comb on removable frames.

Did you know that bees live in trees without removable frames? . They are never inspected?

The bees must comply! We said so.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Folks near here are still catching swarms...

I stop June 1st. Anything after that is just a problem in the making

 

[ponytug]

Folks near here are still catching swarms...

I stop June 1st. Anything after that is just a problem in the making

Because they don't have enough time to put in a good store for winter?

All the best,

Peter