Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum
BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: van from Arkansas on December 01, 2019, 08:42:53 pm
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In 2020, I plan an all out assault on the small hive beetle, maintain under 20 hives and breed the best queens on the planet: gentle, honey producers, non swarming with hygienic qualities. Of course I am bias, I admit it, I adore my queens.
My Alpha queen, that is my main breeder queen will be 4 years old. I have 4 generations of queens from Alpha that range in age from 3 years to 6 months of age. For those of you who are not familiar with Alpha know this:
At two years of age Alpha Filled 5 deeps, 10 frame langstrof of eggs in 4 months. I could have started 15 nucs or more if I wanted. I estimated she was laying 2,000 eggs a day, non stop all Spring and Summer. Her 4th generation daughter, hatched last August, Thelma Lou; hatched, mated and was laying in four days, a new record for me. Most queens take 7-10 days from hatch to mated and laying. Alpha has never swarmed, a great quality. I do not sell queens, this is no sales pitch. I will give away queens to locals.
I don?t know if Alpha will make it to Spring, so far, so good. She is a Cordovan Itialian with a tiny paint spot so easily recognized.
So next Spring:
1. Verify Alpha is OK and graft more queens from Alpha.
2. Green drone frame provided to Cordovan queens with different genetics than Alpha.
3. Employ my new entrance traps for small hive beetle, shown in earlier post.
4. Employ pvc entrance on 3 test hives for beetle reduction. New idea from BenFramed.
5. Artificial Inseminate Alpha virgins as drones mature, about late May.
6. Produce a YouTube video staring Alpha. IF I can figure that out?? Low priority.
7. Access small hive beetle #3 #4 controls and repeat that with best results.
8. Extract enough honey for family.
Ok, I hope I did not bore you to much. I have previously texted about Alpha on BeeMaster so forgive my repeated boast. Just a proud ol BeeKeeper I am. I am a bit anxious to see if Alpha will survived her 4th winter.
Blessings
Van
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I?m ready to follow along.
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Sounds good, Van. You have inspired me to try the anti-SHB entrances. I hope it goes well for you in 2020.
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I?ll be here
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Great plan Van.
If you really want to kill thousands and thousands of SHBs then build screen bottom boards with oil trays. With 20 hives you will totally devistate the SHB population in your area.
Jim Altmiller
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Great plan Van.
If you really want to kill thousands and thousands of SHBs then build screen bottom boards with oil trays. With 20 hives you will totally devistate the SHB population in your area.
Jim Altmiller
True words. West Beetle Traps. Check them out.
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I could be mistaken, am thinking that last year as we were talking about SHB, someone here was experimenting with some type of lure set up in an oil tray. I am thinking it was Paus, but that could be wrong. Does anyone remember anything about this? I was wondering what the results were.
Phillip
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Yep I tried some of the goop from a slimed out hive. I could not tell any difference from other hives with just the oil pan. My conclusion from a very limited and unscientific test "It ain"t worth the trouble" I can look at 4-5 hives before I see a SHB and they are always in the top screen hiding out. I use all DSBB and a top screen frame 1 1/2 inches thick, a cloth and shavings or sawdust in the frame. One of the big advantages with the top screen is that you can take the top off and raise the cloth to get a look down in the hive for a good indication of what is going the bees seldom even notice anything is going on unless I breath in the hive. I can tell no difference from hives in the shade and in the sun. Just a thought sawdust is a better insulator and probably more readily available than shavings.
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Yep I tried some of the goop from a slimed out hive. I could not tell any difference from other hives with just the oil pan. My conclusion from a very limited and unscientific test "It ain"t worth the trouble" I can look at 4-5 hives before I see a SHB and they are always in the top screen hiding out. I use all DSBB and a top screen frame 1 1/2 inches thick, a cloth and shavings or sawdust in the frame. One of the big advantages with the top screen is that you can take the top off and raise the cloth to get a look down in the hive for a good indication of what is going the bees seldom even notice anything is going on unless I breath in the hive. I can tell no difference from hives in the shade and in the sun. Just a thought sawdust is a better insulator and probably more readily available than shavings.
Thanks for the update Paus. You and Jim (Sawdstmakr), among others are the ones that got my attention about the oil trays and screen bottoms in cahoots.
I am thinking wouldn't it be nice if there was some sort of super lure that SHB just simply could not resist and we could place this in a single trap in the middle of our apiary with confidence that the SHB would pass up every hive to reach this super lure and meet their demise. Wishful thinking for now I guess.
Phillip
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Ben you ignited an idea, I may get around to doing putting a hive with oil and one with oil and bait. I am going to put 6-10 hives in an area that is very near wet lands next spring. Maybe this can be a better indication. The rest will only use DSBB unless SHB make it necessary.
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Ben you ignited an idea, I may get around to doing putting a hive with oil and one with oil and bait. I am going to put 6-10 hives in an area that is very near wet lands next spring. May this can be a better indication. The rest will only use DSBB unless SHB make it necessary.
I like your plan Paus. Along with Mr Vans plan with the traps and PVC portals. I intend to purchase some Guardian entrances along with some experimental PVC portals. We will keep pounding!!
I also intend of raising more of my own queens.
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Ben, I have used sub pollen on tray beneath screened bottom board surrounded by diatomaceous earth. The beetles are attracted to pollen patty.
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Sounds like you have a great year coming up, Van. Do keep us posted on how Alpha is doing. I too was concerned for her hearing that she is heading into her 4th winter. 4 years is about the max. life expectancy for a queen, is it not?
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Ben, I have used sub pollen on tray beneath screened bottom board surrounded by diatomaceous earth. The beetles are attracted to pollen patty.
Thanks Mr Van
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Sounds like you have a great year coming up, Van. Do keep us posted on how Alpha is doing. I too was concerned for her hearing that she is heading into her 4th winter. 4 years is about the max. life expectancy for a queen, is it not?
Member, Good Morning to you. I have heard of queens living 5 to 6 years max. But I have never seen a documented queen over 4. I believe a lot of queens are replaced without keeper awareness. Alpha is uniquely colored, red queen, Cordovan and a tiny spot of paint remains. I imagine the tiny paint spot will eventually vanish.
In just a few short months, I will know how Alpha is doing. Four winters is a long time for a queen. How long can a honeybee queen remain fertile and lay worker brood?
March, we will know.
Blessings
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"In Indiana we had a queen we named Alice which lived to the ripe old age of eight years and two months and did excellent work in her seventh year. There can be no doubt about the authenticity of this statement. We sold her to John Chapel of Oakland City, Indiana, and she was the only queen in his yard with wings clipped. This, however is a rare exception. At the time I was experimenting with artificial combs with wooden cells in which the queen laid."--Jay Smith, Better Queens original edition pg 18
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesbetterqueens.htm#Queen%20Alice
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I implemented DSBB in 2017 and they were awesome.. I waited too long in 2018 to get the oil in so SHB started getting thick however once I put the oil in things started getting manageable again..
I'm also going to be using Nemotodes from here (https://www.arbico-organics.com/product/heterorhabditis-indica-small-hive-beetle-control/pest-solver-guide-grubs-beetles) to help control the SHB.. Anyone else have any experience with them?
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"In Indiana we had a queen we named Alice which lived to the ripe old age of eight years and two months and did excellent work in her seventh year. There can be no doubt about the authenticity of this statement. We sold her to John Chapel of Oakland City, Indiana, and she was the only queen in his yard with wings clipped. This, however is a rare exception. At the time I was experimenting with artificial combs with wooden cells in which the queen laid."--Jay Smith, Better Queens original edition pg 18
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesbetterqueens.htm#Queen%20Alice
Fascinating. :rolleyes:
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I don't have Dzierzon's book handy, but he says something similar as to the longevity of queens.
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Thank you Sir. Clipped wings is certainly an identifier. Alice? Ok, begs the question, how did the name originate. Eight years is a new record to me. Eight years and 2 months to be exact. Sounds like genetics I would like to get my hands on. How much money did Alice sell for? I am guessing $30, the fella got a good deal on that queen. He certainly took good care of Alice. Good story Mr. Bush, thank you, no doubt Alice was a Republican. Ok I threw that in to see is Ace is reading. We will find out soon enough.
Blessings
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Great plan. Always good to have a plan.
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>Sounds like genetics I would like to get my hands on.
I'm sure a lot of it is that Smith would limit the area a queen could lay when he was grafting from her and a queen generally lasts as long as she doesn't run out of sperm. A queen laying flat out year after year usually doesn't make it past 3 and sometimes doesn't it make much past 2.
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Oh that makes sense, usually a queen swarms when she is out of laying space, so her wings were clipping preventing swarming. Thanks for clarification, Bush.
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I will be trying Nemotodes from here[/url] to help control the SHB.. Anyone else have any experience with them?
Nope. ... I've learned that my area has a lot.of SHB"s (more than I knew about). I haven't [yet] had much of a problem with them. From what I've read, it may be due to the chickens that we raise. We keep between 40-70 laying hens, and turn them loose most days. People say they target the SHB larvae. Neither chickens, nor nematodes, will accout for beetles coming from from other areas though. ... just some thoughts ...
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Cool, thee are many advantages to having chickens and honeybees. A good combo to me. Unfortunately my subdivision does not allow chickens. Otherwise I would have some.
Van
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Cool, thee are many advantages to having chickens and honeybees. A good combo to me. Unfortunately my subdivision does not allow chickens. Otherwise I would have some.
Van
I'm sorry to hear that Van. Chickens are handy critters to have around.
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I'm also going to be using Nemotodes from here (https://www.arbico-organics.com/product/heterorhabditis-indica-small-hive-beetle-control/pest-solver-guide-grubs-beetles) to help control the SHB.. Anyone else have any experience with them?
I put some nematodes down when SHBs were increasing. There was an almost immediate and profound decrease in the pest.
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I'm also going to be using Nemotodes from here (https://www.arbico-organics.com/product/heterorhabditis-indica-small-hive-beetle-control/pest-solver-guide-grubs-beetles) to help control the SHB.. Anyone else have any experience with them?
I put some nematodes down when SHBs were increasing. There was an almost immediate and profound decrease in the pest.
That's very reassuring to hear. If I can limit the SHB this year that would be make my life much better.. :)
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I plan to move my hives up here to the house so my chickens can work them.
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"In Indiana we had a queen we named Alice which lived to the ripe old age of eight years and two months and did excellent work in her seventh year. There can be no doubt about the authenticity of this statement. We sold her to John Chapel of Oakland City, Indiana, and she was the only queen in his yard with wings clipped. This, however is a rare exception. At the time I was experimenting with artificial combs with wooden cells in which the queen laid."--Jay Smith, Better Queens original edition pg 18
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesbetterqueens.htm#Queen%20Alice
Thank you Sir. Clipped wings is certainly an identifier. Alice? Ok, begs the question, how did the name originate. Eight years is a new record to me. Eight years and 2 months to be exact. Sounds like genetics I would like to get my hands on. How much money did Alice sell for? I am guessing $30, the fella got a good deal on that queen. He certainly took good care of Alice. Good story Mr. Bush, thank you, no doubt Alice was a Republican. Ok I threw that in to see is Ace is reading. We will find out soon enough.
Blessings
There were some interesting things brought up on this topic. I have read where some beekeepers replace their queens every two years. I suppose in Commercial beekeeping, nothing can be left to chance..... I still have a couple queens marked red which are still hard at it, producing good solid brood patterns.
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Ben,
According to some commercial beekeepers that I have talked to, they replace their queens every six months. Some of that is due to keeping their bees down south and keeping the Africanized Bees out of their hives.
Jim Altmiller
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Ben,
According to some commercial beekeepers that I have talked to, they replace their queens every six months. Some of that is due to keeping their bees down south and keeping the Africanized Bees out of their hives.
Jim Altmiller
>Some of that is due to keeping their bees down south and keeping the Africanized Bees out of their hives.
Makes sense.....
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Nope. ... I've learned that my area has a lot.of SHB"s (more than I knew about). I haven't [yet] had much of a problem with them. From what I've read, it may be due to the chickens that we raise. We keep between 40-70 laying hens, and turn them loose most days. People say they target the SHB larvae.
I've been wanting to get chickens..... One more reason!!
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"Plans are neither successful nor unsuccessful until they are executed. And a successful execution of a plan is more important than the plan itself. I was trained to expect the plan to need revision at the moment execution starts."--Colin Powel, "It worked for me."