Wednesday, 25 February 2009

Central Beekeepers Alliance

Central Beekeepers Alliance

When the Snow is Over the Bee Hives

Posted: 24 Feb 2009 05:13 PM PST

In the aftermath of a major winter storm, such as the blizzard that hit New Brunswick this week, many of our bee hives might end up buried in a snow drift. While a good blanket of snow around a bee hive is good insulation, I have to confess that I get worried when our hives disappear completely underneath the white stuff.

on snowshoes at the bee hives That’s why I got out the snowshoes and shovel today, and went out to take some snow away from the upper entrances.

The hives in this picture are doubles, set up on a stand made from hefty timbers, and this is the first time in 10 years we’ve had so much snow that the upper entrances were completely covered. Only the top of the outer covers, and the rocks we put on top to hold the covers down, were still visible when yesterday’s snowstorm ended.

Fluffy snow has a lot of air trapped in between the flakes, and the relative warmth of the hive body itself tends to create a little air space between the hive and the snowbank — much as you’re likely to see a gap along the edge of a house foundation where the snow has melted away — so I’m not particularly concerned about the bees suffocating. Except when ice forms at the upper entrance.

And ICE is exactly what I found at one of those hives.

Inside the bent-metal wind guard that we always put around the entrance when we wrap the hives for wintering, a chunk of ice had formed that almost sealed up the whole entrance. The open area was less than a quarter-inch square, I’d estimate.

It’s hard to imagine how there could have been much ventilation going on, to prevent moisture build-up inside the hive. And here’s a piece from The Biology and Management of Colonies in Winter (PDF document) written by Adony Melathopoulos, Beaverlodge Research Farm, Alberta — one of the educational freebies on the CAPA website — that made me glad I’d gone out to check the entrances:

It is estimated that bees produce 0.68 kg of water per kg of honey they consume. This water is important to the bees and they use it to dilute honey, feed brood and flush metabolic wastes from their bodies. Nonetheless, some of this water escapes as a vapour, which in itself is important as brood develops best at 40% relative humidity. A problem occurs, however, when outside temperatures drop. Cold air does not hold as much water as warm air, so as warm moist air leaves the cluster, it condenses on the comb. Bees can cope with some moisture outside the cluster, but if the moisture accumulates and begins dripping back on the bees it saps them of heat. This issue is significant when we consider the role of the upper entrance in your colonies.

Since the main role of the upper entrance, in winter, is to vent extra moisture from the hive, I think it just makes sense to keep it clear of snow — especially when there’s a spell of milder wet weather in the forecast, and a risk that the fluffy soft-fallen snow could turn into solid ice.

But that’s just one beekeeper’s opinion, based on what I read and observe.

And there’s a saying that if you ask 10 beekeepers a question, you’ll get 11 different answers — so let’s hear yours, too! Do you try to keep the top entrances of your hives clear of snow in winter?

Post from: Central Beekeepers Alliance

Wanted: 4-Frame Stainless Steel Extractor

Posted: 24 Feb 2009 11:59 AM PST

Sterling Clark (Minto area of NB) asks:

Anyone got a stainless steel 4 frame extractor to sell ( or even better - give)
Does not need a motor, I can rig that up.

Please feel free to drop a note in the comments here, if you don’t know Sterling and have a way to contact him directly but have an extractor to spare.

Post from: Central Beekeepers Alliance
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