Ask the Expert

What are the Pros and Cons of Using Nine Frames vs 10 Frames?

What are the pros and cons of using nine frames in the brood boxes? If one wished go from nine frames to 10 frames, how should it be done?

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How Do I Prepare a Dead Hive for New Bees?
April 17, 2020 · · Ask the Expert

Unless the colony died because of a nasty disease like American Foulbrood, you can definitely re-use the equipment. AFB would present as a horrible smelling hive with rotting, brown, slimy brood. You don’t want to re-use equipment if the colony had AFB because it will pass on the new bees.

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How Do I Harvest Royal Jelly?
March 24, 2020 · · Ask the Expert

To harvest royal jelly in any quantifiable amount, you’ll need several strong, healthy hives and a working knowledge of queen grafting.

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How Do You Catch a Swarm of Bees?
March 17, 2020 · · Ask the Expert

The simplest answer to “how to catch a swarm of bees” is this — get the queen and all the ladies in something you can safely transport them in back to your apiary.

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Can Different Species of Bees Mate?
March 9, 2020 · · Ask the Expert

Different species of honey bees cannot successfully mate with each other. Instead, you are asking about sub-species, sometimes referred to as races. An Italian queen and a New World Carniolan are merely different races of one species, Apis mellifera, and they are completely capable of interbreeding.

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Can Beehives Open Toward a Fence?
March 7, 2020 · · Ask the Expert

I am in Zone 8, I have three Langstroth hives next to a solid board fence. Can I turn the opening toward fence and how far away should the opening be from the fence?

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Can Honey Bees Rehab Comb Damaged by Wax Moths?
February 17, 2020 · · Ask the Expert, Health & Pests

Oh man, there are few things more frustrating than a wax moth infestation. They are so destructive to the comb! The brief answer is yes, in most cases the bees can rehab comb damaged by wax moths.

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Can I Use a Reflector to Increase the Amount of Sunlight in a Shady Location?

Honey bees are extremely adaptable, so there is no need for a hive to be placed in direct sunlight. In fact, left on their own, honey bees often select homes in very shady areas, including forests, behind barns, under bridges, and in homes that get no direct sunlight whatsoever.

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I Found Dead Moth Worms on My Bottom Board
November 21, 2019 · · Ask the Expert

I was out inspecting the bottom board of my strongest hive. I found 3 dead moth worms. The hive is three deep and packed. Is there anything I can do / should do this late in the season to treat? I did the OAV treatment this fall from your tutorial and it worked great.

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Why Are There Bald-Faced Hornets in my Top Feeder?
September 17, 2019 · · Ask the Expert, Health & Pests

I found a ton of dead, large black and white, what I think might be bald-faced hornets dead inside of a feeder. I killed a bunch outside my hives too. Entrance reducer was on also. Should I worry? I’m thrilled The Hive was strong enough to kill all the intruders at least.

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