More than sticky honey extraction has been going on in the apiary since the last post. A quick summary:
Mite count was high in July. I wanted to treat with oxalic acid on shop towels. I wrote to Randy Oliver to find out his latest formula. He told me that he is using Swedish sponge cloths now instead of shop towels and that he has changed the formula a bit. I couldn't find that particular brand, but found some by Scotch-Brite that seemed the same. I put the OA into the hive using Randy's latest formula. I did not do a repeat mite count. After removing the honey supers and the remains of the sponge cloths, I put in Apivar strips as I have done yearly.
The long lang colony never had honey or pollen stores and did not thrive. I always spotted the queen, but no brood. As the population diminished, I fed it in hopes it could recover. This led to robbing of the syrup! I removed the feeder and vacuumed out the corpses. Next year, either a split from #1 or another swarm.
I plan to reconstruct the hive stand for #1 & 2. I will make it lower and change the position of the ant moats to the more secure position of the other stands.
Other winter bee care involves rejuvenating frames and foundations.
I hope you're all doing well in these troubled times.
