This message was originally submitted by [log in to unmask] to the BEE-L list at LISTSERV.ALBANY.EDU. It was edited to remove excessive quotes of previously posted material. > Date: Mon, 9 Aug 1999 16:34:23 -0400 > To: [log in to unmask] > From: Vivian Donahue <[log in to unmask]> > Subject: late summer laying & double wide hive body > > Thanks for all the great responses. I'm in NothernVirginia, and by hot, I > mean mostly in the 90s. I was thinking of feeding them anyway so I will take > the advice and put some syrup on. As for their crankiness, it just seems more > than what I would normally expect. I will requeen this fall, as recommended > by the list, since I think it would make it a better natured hive (hopefully). > Unfortunately, shade is the only location on my lot that I have for them. > It is not heavy shade, and they do get some spotty sun. In the winter, they > get full sun. > > And don't worry, I would never use honey that was produced while apistan or > menthol was on. I have bees crawling around on the ground so I am sure they > need the menthol right now. I don't do commercial production anyway. I'm > just a hobbiest and I give all my excess (when I have it) to friends and > family and neighbors. By surplus, I really meant that there seems to be full > honey in all the corners of all the brood comb as well as plenty of pollen, > and nector in the super I leave on top of each brood body of each hive. I > have already removed the honey I will take for this year. We do sometimes have > a fall flow, but it is not worth taking medications off for, and with this > drought, I seriously doubt that it will be adequate for them to winter over > on. I didn't get nearly the surplus I thought I would from this spring. > > Now, any recommendations for someone like me who has hardly ever been able to > find the queen? I know to look for her on all the frames where there are > young eggs, but there just has to be some other trick to it. I like the idea > of first doing a nuc, then recombining them, and may resort to that, but I > sure would like to improve my ability to find the queen. > > Also, I read with interest several of the posts about the one story double > hive body, and I just love this idea. Does anybody know where I can purchase > one, and the various equipment I would need for it (covers, bottom board, > landing platform, one of the wire mesh bottoms for varroa control, etc.)? > Please don't tell me how easy it is to build, because I was never allowed to > take shop. ;-) I would really love to try one, since lifting hive bodys is > not easy, even though I am stronger than the average woman. > > Vivian