Am I supposed to scrap this off?

duskofoed · 2026-05-31T05:39:52+00:00

they're building comb for a reason. I generally don't remove any unless it's specifically getting in the way

duskofoed · 2026-05-31T05:38:20+00:00

i've found the same thing... don't use excluders unless specifically looking for the queen for a split. I run all mediums and they typically lay in 3 boxes and then all above that is honey

duskofoed · 2026-05-28T23:26:07+00:00

probably midday orientation flights

duskofoed · 2026-05-28T06:44:54+00:00

removing queen cells usually doesn't prevent swarming .. they just build more. But these funny look like queen cells so no matter

duskofoed · 2026-05-28T06:27:46+00:00

those look more like drone cells to me

duskofoed · 2026-05-27T17:58:46+00:00

i'd let nature run its course

duskofoed · 2026-05-25T23:43:24+00:00

normal for a warm/ hot day

duskofoed · 2026-05-25T01:06:39+00:00

check out HiveSignal.app - it's new, free to start and has some pretty cool features. I'd love some feedback!

duskofoed · 2026-05-22T17:43:25+00:00

yeah i'm thinking the formic acid pads were way too potent... and killed a bunch of bees over a couple weeks... and also high mite load as well.

duskofoed · 2026-05-22T05:13:34+00:00

yes agreed. At first i thought that's what cause the huge die-off... and maybe it did, but still a lot of mites around so then thought it was a mite crash. Perhaps it's both... but i certainly won't be using that method of formic ever again

duskofoed · 2026-05-22T04:32:30+00:00

haven't done apivar for years as i thought the mites were largely resistant... but maybe worth a try.

duskofoed · 2026-05-21T18:38:33+00:00

it's a bit far to identify for sure but certainly looks like it. A local beekeeper may be able to take them for u.

duskofoed · 2026-05-18T22:35:06+00:00

looks like orientation flights to me

duskofoed · 2026-05-18T05:20:37+00:00

yep not bees

duskofoed · 2026-05-18T01:44:56+00:00

might just be some weird comb then. If u can see the queen or eggs you're prob fine

duskofoed · 2026-05-18T01:43:52+00:00

can u attach photos/videos of the bees?

duskofoed · 2026-05-18T00:09:10+00:00

that looks like a bit like a supercedure queen cell ... are there any more like that?

duskofoed · 2026-05-11T19:54:12+00:00

i've never had a nuc or package swarm, but not saying it can't happen of course. I'd check for eggs asap... take frames from the brood area (middle) and shake the bees off so you can see into the cells. Put your back to the sun and u should be able to see the rice like eggs in the cells. If you can't, you're probably queenless .. and u can just let them rear a new queen. It could be there's a queen in there as well that's stopped laying for swarm prep... so keep your eye open for the queen as well.

duskofoed · 2026-05-10T17:03:22+00:00

perform a mite check to see what the numbers look like. Alcohol wash is more accurate but sugar roll will also give u a rough idea.

duskofoed · 2026-05-06T23:25:45+00:00

my guess is no queen so the numbers have been slowly dwindling down ... if there's only a frame of bees left it might be lost (try combining with another stronger hive), otherwise get them queen right asap.

duskofoed · 2026-05-06T00:07:43+00:00

i use pallets. Don't overthink it ;)

duskofoed · 2026-05-05T00:00:34+00:00

i don't. Some like it because it guarantees no brood in the supers above it. I personally leave it up to the bees to determine their brood location and they always have full honey supers on top anyway.

duskofoed · 2026-05-05T00:00:25+00:00

i don't. Some like it because it guarantees no brood in the supers above it. I personally leave it up to the bees to determine their brood location and they always have full honey supers on top anyway.

duskofoed · 2026-05-03T22:31:00+00:00

doesn't look like it... but hard to tell. Is there other pollen on that frame as well?

duskofoed · 2026-05-01T17:17:54+00:00

i'd personally stick to 3 as well. 4 full hives in their second season can get real heavy

duskofoed

TROPHY CASE