Category Archives: Varroa Mites

Bees in Spring

By Harry Edwards | Published: May 21, 2009
While this spring has been blustery and wet, it's also been relatively warm and provided lots of forging opportunities for the bees. The maple bloom peaked about a two weeks ago, the apple blossoms down at Hartstene have faded, and it was about this time last year that I started seeing the first blackberry blooms [...]
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Knocking Down Varroa

By Harry Edwards | Published: May 31, 2008
The biggest problem facing backyard beekeepers such as myself is not Colony Collapse Disorder or even nosema (although the latter has definitely been a problem in my hives). What’s caused the annual demise of about 50% of my hives are infestations of varroa mites. Until this year my primary defense for varroa has been regular [...]
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Progress in Hive 1

By Harry Edwards | Published: April 24, 2008
With all the excitement around the new bee boxes I installed last week I haven’t forgotten my sole surviving hive from last year. It’s been over two weeks since I last checked in on this colony. Date: 4/22/2008; Time: 4:00pmWeather: Sunny, 53 degrees, slight breeze Not surprisingly the brood nest has moved up into the [...]
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The Bees Are Flying

By Harry Edwards | Published: April 4, 2008
The good weather had the bees flying this week (until today) so I decided to make a quick check yesterday afternoon to see how the queen is doing: Time: 4:00pmWeather: Sunny, 60 degrees, slight breeze Found the queen on frame #6. This seems to be her favorite place (top photo). Spotted several batches of freshly [...]
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Slippery Bees

By Harry Edwards | Published: March 10, 2008
One thing I forgot to do last week when I installed the screened bottom board was add a grease patty or two. A grease patty is made up of 2 parts grease (Crisco) and one part sugar (and/or honey) mixed together and sandwiched between two sheets of wax paper. Many recipes call for adding essential [...]
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Second Hive Visit of 2008

By Harry Edwards | Published: March 6, 2008
The purpose of today’s short visit was to install a screened bottom board, check on the queen and clean out the bottom brood box. Inspection Time: 3pmWeather: Overcast, 50 degrees, light southerly breeze The overall population appears about the same as it was 10 days ago. Found capped brood and some uncapped larva on three [...]
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