During this week’s inspection we discovered an upturn in the number of Pests in our hives. After enjoying very low numbers of Varroa mites all year, we saw that we have reached about a 1% infection rate in two of our hives (our threshold for beginning treatment). We will apply oxallic acid vapor to the… Read more

For the past month, the bees have been experiencing a “dearth” of nectar because of a seasonal lack of flowers that accompanies the heat of summer.  All bees during this time become more aggressive and will steal resources from weaker colonies.  To ward off these attacks, bees also become more defensive.  This combination makes the… Read more

This week we continue preparing our bees for Fall. Activities include reconfiguring our hives into their winter configuration. We do this by reducing the size of the hives, moving bees and resources from one hive to another to balence their size, feeding the bees sugar syrup and pollen if needed, and treating for pests if… Read more

This week we moved hive 4 back to the apiary.  The hive successfully created a new queen after their queen was lost when we cut out the colony from the eve of the church.  To help it build up and be ready for winter we took some resources and brood from hive two and added… Read more

After spending two weeks acclimating to being a separate colony, our two splits have been returned to the Apiary.  For simplicity and convenience, we have designated them hive 5 and 6.  Hive 5 is the stronger of the two, but both are doing well and should be ready to over winter come fall. The bees… Read more

Some time ago, we noticed that a colony of bees had taken up residence in the soffit of the sanctuary. Yesterday, as part of our irregularly scheduled volunteer property clean up events, we removed the bees from the church and moved them to a remote location in Arlington. We will return them to the church… Read more