Pollinators

[swampbilly]

Any who, any Beeks here?

[Belladonna]

I tried, and failed. Do you have a question? I'll help if I can.

[swampbilly]

I tried, and failed. Do you have a question? I'll help if I can.

just wanted to see if there where any beeks here

Iv'e been fortunate that my apiary is thriving, double my hives by swarm every spring

the gryls are nice to me

How did ya fail?

[Belladonna]

I got in over my head. I had plans to increase my colony one hive per year. Then a bounty landed in my lap and the second year I had 7 hives ( I think these numbers are accurate, not sure tho) and in my stacks of supers another 8 set up camp. So, second year in and I was dealing with 15 colonies and very little experience/knowledge. I needed help due to an old back injury, the supers were too heavy to lift when full of honey. The last time my husband went out he was stung so many times his neck swelled up for days. I was stung 30 times that day, and we were both in full suits. I then had an experienced beek attempt to take over for shares, and he was stung so much he never came back. And no, I don't re-queen. The mean bees have lived and produce the most honey so I just let them do as they will. On their own, of course.

I am letting them do as bees do. They have a place to live and plenty of crops to pollinate.

[swampbilly]

are they Africanized?

I have a few hives that are hot, buckfest and russian mixed

[Belladonna]

are they Africanized?

I have a few hives that are hot, buckfest and russian mixed

I think so. I probably should have culled the queen because some neighboring hives are now very aggressive.

[Tracker]

Africanized bee's are the ticket. They show resistance to mites and other parasites. The regular honey bees aren't indigenous to America. So they have a tendency to die here. Killer bees thrive where European honey bees drop dead by the millions.

[swampbilly]

Africanized bee's are the ticket. They show resistance to mites and other parasites. The regular honey bees aren't indigenous to America. So they have a tendency to die here. Killer bees thrive where European honey bees drop dead by the millions.

gonna take a long time for them to bee workable, many many generations, many many years

better to practice quality management in the interim

the commercial outfits are what caused the problems for the most part

ymmv

my 2c

[Tracker]

Not at all. I have a massive hive. Killer bees. They pollinate.

I have a bunch of damn wasps, too.

[swampbilly]

Not at all. I have a massive hive. Killer bees. They pollinate.

I have a bunch of damn wasps, too.

not at all, what exactly?

ever been hit 20 times? 100 times? 200 times?
if and i mean if, ya got a massive "killer bee" hive, wait till ya get hit 20,000 -70,000 times
no amount of epi will save ya..period

go for it, have a ball...fool

[duke nukem]

I've wanted to raise bees for a while now. I love bees and I love honey, figured those two things are pretty closely related so I could work something out.

[swampbilly]

I've wanted to raise bees for a while now. I love bees and I love honey, figured those two things are pretty closely related so I could work something out.

it's a blast

[Tracker]

They don't fuck with me. I keep my distance. The hive rests in half of an old oilfield battery. Stay away from it and you don't get stung. Leave them alone to do bee shit and your plants get pollinated. Pretty simple, really.

[Belladonna]

Africanized bee's are the ticket. They show resistance to mites and other parasites. The regular honey bees aren't indigenous to America. So they have a tendency to die here. Killer bees thrive where European honey bees drop dead by the millions.

I agree with you totally, Tracker. The one healthy hive I have has been going since my second year. They are truly assholes, and they are still there producing honey. They produce a lot, too. My friend and I were just discussing this hive and I told her that their disagreeable nature must be the reason they have survived through moths and mites. They attack with great tenacity, I think they love a good row.

[Belladonna]

not at all, what exactly?

ever been hit 20 times? 100 times? 200 times?
if and i mean if, ya got a massive "killer bee" hive, wait till ya get hit 20,000 -70,000 times
no amount of epi will save ya..period

go for it, have a ball...fool

The last time I worked my mean hive I got stung about 30 times, as did my husband. His neck was swollen for a few days. This is TMI, but it hurt so bad I peed my suit a wee bit. We were both running across the field and I had my suit off and was in the pool in record time.