Cazza
Queen Bee
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2010
- Messages
- 2,528
- Reaction score
- 22
- Location
- Suffolk/Norfolk border
- Hive Type
- National
- Number of Hives
- 5 ish
It's the time of year for the wasp threads to start so for beginners:
Wasps can devastate weak hives very quickly. Keep an eye out for them, look at the entrance daily to see if they can gain access.
I will reduce my entrance size from full width by popping the entrance block in at this time of year.
The best way to keep the wasps out is to be very, very careful when you inspect, try to be as quick as possible. Try not to drip any honey and if you are using any syrup, do not drip any.
Some people will use wasp traps. I don't. If you must, make sure they are high efficiency ones, home made jam traps are more of on attractant than a deterrent.
If your hive comes under attack, reduce the entrance size to one cm (foam does this very nicely), you can also place a glass or clear plastic barrier over the entrance. Your bees will work this out, wasps find it tricky.
If nothing works and it's not too late, move the hive to an out apiary.
I have lost one hive in 20 years, mostly by being very careful. The lost hive went because I was away. I used to slaughter the wasps but have given up doing this as I now believe they are fantastically useful creatures. (Thanks to Karol)
Cazza
Wasps can devastate weak hives very quickly. Keep an eye out for them, look at the entrance daily to see if they can gain access.
I will reduce my entrance size from full width by popping the entrance block in at this time of year.
The best way to keep the wasps out is to be very, very careful when you inspect, try to be as quick as possible. Try not to drip any honey and if you are using any syrup, do not drip any.
Some people will use wasp traps. I don't. If you must, make sure they are high efficiency ones, home made jam traps are more of on attractant than a deterrent.
If your hive comes under attack, reduce the entrance size to one cm (foam does this very nicely), you can also place a glass or clear plastic barrier over the entrance. Your bees will work this out, wasps find it tricky.
If nothing works and it's not too late, move the hive to an out apiary.
I have lost one hive in 20 years, mostly by being very careful. The lost hive went because I was away. I used to slaughter the wasps but have given up doing this as I now believe they are fantastically useful creatures. (Thanks to Karol)
Cazza