Hi All
 
Greg mentioned the problem with a glued super. I recently got given
about 15 hives that had not been tended in 15 years. These were in
the karroo - our semi desert and bees in this area make lots of
propolis.
 
I could not do very much with them, so eventually decided to get the
bees to move the propolis around the hive. I removed all entrance
propolis (wearing a rather thick beesuit for a change) and then
prized the back of the hives apart at the join between the super and
placed a little pebble in there. Within a week I came back and they
had moved a huge amount of propolis from 'store;' areas - ie between
frames and the side of the brood box. I was able to them manipulate
the frames at midday and removed them and gave them a good scrape.
 
I now practise a policy of removing a small amount of entrance
propolis every time I open the brood nest when there is a flow. In
this way the frames don't get too gummed as the bees are always
moving propolis down from between them to the 'more important'
entrance.
 
It may be unwise to do this if there is no flow.
 
An alternative that I cannot vouch for as I have not  yet tried it,
would be to tape the zone of connection between two hives with black
duct tape and then seperate the hives when the sun shines on it - the
increased warmth might help.
 
Keep well
 
Garth
 
Garth Cambray           Camdini Apiaries
Grahamstown             Apis mellifera capensis
Eastern Cape Prov.
South Africa
 
Time = Honey
 
After careful consideration, I have decided that if I am ever a V.I.P
the I. may not stand for important.
(rather influential, ignorant, idiotic, intelectual, illadvised etc)