14th January 2014 - Oxalic Acid Application

General

Temperature 6C, weather dry but cloudy.

 

Woodpecker cages on all hives.

 

The bomb shelter is flooded with some detritus including wooden boxes floating.

Small branch from little oak tree has come down but no danger to hives. Large pine on drive has fallen fortuitously away from drive.

 

No sign of clusters at top of hives so assume adequate food in all hives. Suggest hefting in approx 2 weeks time to check for stores.

Hive #1

Brood and half, on grass so unable to detect fallen cappings. Mouseguard on. Oxalic acid applied to 7 seams. Bees low in hive odd one said hello.

Hive #4

Brood and half, on slab with fallen cappings under hive. This has wooden entrance excluder rather than Mouseguard. Oxalic acid applied to 7 seams low in hive. No bees seen at all.

 

Hive #5

Double brood, on grass so unable to detect fallen cappings. Mouseguard on. Oxalic acid applied to 7 seams. Bees low in hive odd one said hello.

Hive #6

Brood and half, on slab with fallen cappings under hive. Mouseguard on. Oxalic acid applied to 5 seams. Bees low in hive odd one said hello.