Status Update

I checked the hives yesterday. Both hives had finished their buckets. I saw both queens.

   The Italian hive looks very healthy. The bottom box has some brood, some empty frames and lots of pollen. The middle box has brood, nectar and pollen as does the top box. Not all the frames are full, but I gave them an extra box so they don't feel crowded. They now have 4 boxes to work with.

   The hybrid hive is still struggling. I did not find dead bees this time, but the queen has still not filled in 2 boxes. I put a robbing screen on the hive just in case. I saw a frame of what looked to be honey that had been stripped bare. While I was watching the hive today I saw lots of pollen going in so I'm still hopeful. Both hives are bringing in goldenrod if I understand the smell correctly. I want to get another box on this hive before winter so I'll be putting buckets on again.

  I think I'll dose them with fumagilin and ApiLife Var in preparation for winter. 3 doses of ApiLife Var--4 pieces every 7-10 days (daytime average temperature between 68 and 86). Less effective when temp is below 54. Can cause bee kill when temp is over 90. Close up screened bottom board and beware robbing. 2 gallons fumagilin in the Fall. 1 rounded teaspoon == 5 grams + 1/2 gallon water + 8 lbs sugar for feeding.

Latest Status--so far so good

I looked into the Italian hive today. I did not see the queen, but I did see evidence of her. The bottom box had mostly empty cells (looks some bees hatched very recently), capped and uncapped larvae. About 4 frames of brood nest. The middle box had another 4 frames or so of eggs, uncapped larvae and capped brood along with some nectar and honey. The top box had about 4 frames of nectar and pollen. Overall I think this hive is doing very well. There seem to be a lot of bees, and they finished off the bucket of syrup so I gave them another bucket. The weather has been unstable, and I think it's the dearth so they probably need the syrup. Unfortunately I think when their bucket ran out they may have tried raiding the other hive.

I looked into the hybrid hive today. I did see the queen! I found about 2 dozen dead bees on the bottom screen and from the sprinkling of wax under the hive I think they died fighting off some raiders. I'm hoping that the bucket of syrup on the other hive will keep them from preying on this hive. The bottom box has about 4 frames of brood and the top box has another 4 frames of eggs, uncapped larvae and capped brood. They are also putting honey/nectar and pollen into the frames around the brood and in some of the other frames, but they have not filled in the two boxes yet. I wish that this hive was building up faster, but I guess this queen is a little slower. I'll just keep pushing the syrup and keep my fingers crossed. I've got to start thinking about fall medications.