Category: Bee Keeping Journal

Removed 2 frames of capped brood and 2 frames of nectar and pollen from WildCA18A and isolated these bees without a queen. I will introduce grafts into starter colony tomorrow.

In Denver we just had our largest pressure drop ever recorded in the history of the state. The pressure dropped to 970 millibars. In less than 24 hours the temperature went from an enjoyable bee friendly 60F to a terrible 25F. This is what the difference looked like.

I installed the 15watt hive heaters in WildCA18A and Wild17 hives. Made sure quilt boxes were installed and bottom screen covers were in place.

We are getting closer to the point where I would think these colonies are certain to survive the remaining winter months. All 3 colonies, Wild17, WildCA18A, WildCA18B are alive.

WildCA18B was believed to bee queenless going into winter as no queen could be found and there were ZERO larva or eggs in late fall. However, eggs were now seen in WildCA18B which would indicate a queenright hive and a very conservative wild laying queen. Hive numbers look adequate but not excessive. About 2 frames of overwintered bees. Supplemental sugar board food supply looks good.

WildCA18A and WildCA18B look to have excellent numbers. Both colonies need more sugar board food supplies. Both colonies appear to have filled a Warre box each.

Dakota18B colony has completely absconded. Hive inspection up until now have shown a healthy but average sized colony. Hive was full of resources and not diseased. This represents the 3rd time in 2 years that a commercially sourced bee colony has for some reason just disappeared. There are a fair number of dead bees left in the bottom of the hive but not nearly enough to account for the entire hive. I have seen this exact same scenario 3 times previously. Hive body full of resources. Hive treated for mites with oxalic acid. Sometime in mid to late fall, entire colony just disappears.

WildCA18B colony inspected. No eggs can be found. All brood frames have been back filled with nectar. Queen cannot be found. Colony may be queen-less. However we are far too late in the season to re-queen. Will check in spring to find queen or eggs. Colony given a top sugar board and closed up.

Dakota18A colony has collapsed. Prior inspections showed a healthy and highly productive colony. Colony was treated with an aggressive schedule for mites using oxalic acid. Today’s inspection shows 5 warre boxes full of resources and only a few dead bees left in the hive. I will keep the honey and frames for next years colonies.

Campus hives, Dakota18A, Dakota18C, WildCA18B were opened. All colonies have eggs. All colonies have larva. All feeders filled with 1:1 syrup. Normal entrance activity and numbers.

Campus hives, Dakota18A, Dakota18C, WildCA18B were opened. All colonies have eggs. All colonies have larva. All feeders filled with 1:1 syrup. Normal entrance activity and numbers.

Campus hives, Dakota18A, Dakota18C, WildCA18B were opened. All colonies have eggs. All colonies have larva. All feeders filled with 1:1 syrup. Normal entrance activity and numbers.

WildCA18A was examined. No more dead bees observed in front of hive. Did not open hive today. Observed fewer entrance foragers and lees activity overall. Observation windows on side of hive look full. Performed oxalic acid mite treatment, 2 caps, 10 minutes.