I would like to come to Kelley's for one of their classes, see their setup, and pic up a nuc or two.Jonwoos wrote:You coming to clarkson sometime??
Bee Keeping
- scorpionmain
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Re: Bee Keeping
"Among the natural rights of the colonists are these: First a right to life, secondly to liberty, and thirdly to property; together with the right to defend them in the best manner they can."
–Samuel Adams
–Samuel Adams
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Re: Bee Keeping
Almond orchard in Capay Valley, Yolo County. (Photo by Claire Brittain)
"Among the natural rights of the colonists are these: First a right to life, secondly to liberty, and thirdly to property; together with the right to defend them in the best manner they can."
–Samuel Adams
–Samuel Adams
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Re: Bee Keeping
Honey bees pollinating almonds. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
"Among the natural rights of the colonists are these: First a right to life, secondly to liberty, and thirdly to property; together with the right to defend them in the best manner they can."
–Samuel Adams
–Samuel Adams
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Re: Bee Keeping
Just dreaming of Spring...
"Among the natural rights of the colonists are these: First a right to life, secondly to liberty, and thirdly to property; together with the right to defend them in the best manner they can."
–Samuel Adams
–Samuel Adams
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Re: Bee Keeping
Drone Congregation Areas
By Tom Webster, PhD
Drones and queens fly to specific locations where they
mate while flying. The drones that mate die soon afterward.
The mated queens fly back to their hives.
The queens will mate with from 5 to 40 drones, during
one or several mating flights. After their mating flights, the
queens will develop large ovaries and not mate again. The
semen from the mating is stored in the queen’s spermatheca,
where it will last for years if the queen remains healthy. The
spermatheca is a tiny organ about 1/2 millimeter across. The
queen releases a few sperm to fertilize each egg as it passes
down her reproductive tract, except for the eggs destined to
become drones which develop from unfertilized eggs.
Why does a queen mate with so many drones? Genetic diversity within the colony helps it function more
effectively.
How do drones and queens find these congregation areas? The bees choose the same places each year, even
though there can be no “memory” of these spots. New drones and queens find them quite reliably. Some studies
suggest that differences in the earth’s magnetic field lead bees to these places. Bees have magnetic tissue in their
brains, like some other animals and people too.
Lines of trees or a ridge that ends abruptly may be
an important indicator. There will be a cloud of drones
circling about 50 ft above the ground. They will quickly
chase any queen that passes into this area. Drones use their
enormous eyes and also their ability to smell the queen’s
pheromone.
The congregation areas may be close to hives or miles
away. Drones fly farther than queens to reach congregation
areas. This promotes out-breeding. Inbreeding is very
unhealthy for honeybees. Drones from one hive may fly to
different congregation areas in different directions from the
hive.
Mating flights are usually late afternoon. Watch your
hive entrances 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. during the April to June peak
mating period.
Most drones are unsuccessful at mating. Perhaps 1 or 2% of
drones are successful. Drones that survive until fall are evicted
from their hives, usually after frosty nights in October.
By Tom Webster, PhD
Drones and queens fly to specific locations where they
mate while flying. The drones that mate die soon afterward.
The mated queens fly back to their hives.
The queens will mate with from 5 to 40 drones, during
one or several mating flights. After their mating flights, the
queens will develop large ovaries and not mate again. The
semen from the mating is stored in the queen’s spermatheca,
where it will last for years if the queen remains healthy. The
spermatheca is a tiny organ about 1/2 millimeter across. The
queen releases a few sperm to fertilize each egg as it passes
down her reproductive tract, except for the eggs destined to
become drones which develop from unfertilized eggs.
Why does a queen mate with so many drones? Genetic diversity within the colony helps it function more
effectively.
How do drones and queens find these congregation areas? The bees choose the same places each year, even
though there can be no “memory” of these spots. New drones and queens find them quite reliably. Some studies
suggest that differences in the earth’s magnetic field lead bees to these places. Bees have magnetic tissue in their
brains, like some other animals and people too.
Lines of trees or a ridge that ends abruptly may be
an important indicator. There will be a cloud of drones
circling about 50 ft above the ground. They will quickly
chase any queen that passes into this area. Drones use their
enormous eyes and also their ability to smell the queen’s
pheromone.
The congregation areas may be close to hives or miles
away. Drones fly farther than queens to reach congregation
areas. This promotes out-breeding. Inbreeding is very
unhealthy for honeybees. Drones from one hive may fly to
different congregation areas in different directions from the
hive.
Mating flights are usually late afternoon. Watch your
hive entrances 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. during the April to June peak
mating period.
Most drones are unsuccessful at mating. Perhaps 1 or 2% of
drones are successful. Drones that survive until fall are evicted
from their hives, usually after frosty nights in October.
"Among the natural rights of the colonists are these: First a right to life, secondly to liberty, and thirdly to property; together with the right to defend them in the best manner they can."
–Samuel Adams
–Samuel Adams
- scorpionmain
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Re: Bee Keeping
"Among the natural rights of the colonists are these: First a right to life, secondly to liberty, and thirdly to property; together with the right to defend them in the best manner they can."
–Samuel Adams
–Samuel Adams
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Re: Bee Keeping
"Among the natural rights of the colonists are these: First a right to life, secondly to liberty, and thirdly to property; together with the right to defend them in the best manner they can."
–Samuel Adams
–Samuel Adams
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Re: Bee Keeping
"Among the natural rights of the colonists are these: First a right to life, secondly to liberty, and thirdly to property; together with the right to defend them in the best manner they can."
–Samuel Adams
–Samuel Adams
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Re: Bee Keeping
"Among the natural rights of the colonists are these: First a right to life, secondly to liberty, and thirdly to property; together with the right to defend them in the best manner they can."
–Samuel Adams
–Samuel Adams
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Re: Bee Keeping
"Among the natural rights of the colonists are these: First a right to life, secondly to liberty, and thirdly to property; together with the right to defend them in the best manner they can."
–Samuel Adams
–Samuel Adams
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Re: Bee Keeping
"Among the natural rights of the colonists are these: First a right to life, secondly to liberty, and thirdly to property; together with the right to defend them in the best manner they can."
–Samuel Adams
–Samuel Adams
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Re: Bee Keeping
"Among the natural rights of the colonists are these: First a right to life, secondly to liberty, and thirdly to property; together with the right to defend them in the best manner they can."
–Samuel Adams
–Samuel Adams
- scorpionmain
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Re: Bee Keeping
"Among the natural rights of the colonists are these: First a right to life, secondly to liberty, and thirdly to property; together with the right to defend them in the best manner they can."
–Samuel Adams
–Samuel Adams
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Re: Bee Keeping
"Among the natural rights of the colonists are these: First a right to life, secondly to liberty, and thirdly to property; together with the right to defend them in the best manner they can."
–Samuel Adams
–Samuel Adams
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Re: Bee Keeping
"Among the natural rights of the colonists are these: First a right to life, secondly to liberty, and thirdly to property; together with the right to defend them in the best manner they can."
–Samuel Adams
–Samuel Adams
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Re: Bee Keeping
"Among the natural rights of the colonists are these: First a right to life, secondly to liberty, and thirdly to property; together with the right to defend them in the best manner they can."
–Samuel Adams
–Samuel Adams
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Re: Bee Keeping
Set a swarm trap.
Ready for the spring bee catching season!
"Among the natural rights of the colonists are these: First a right to life, secondly to liberty, and thirdly to property; together with the right to defend them in the best manner they can."
–Samuel Adams
–Samuel Adams
- Wyldman
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Re: Bee Keeping
Some of the best honey I ever tasted came from a hive set up in the middle of a field of sweet corn! Luscious!
IN GOD WE TRUST
"That boy's paradigm don't always add up to four nickels...."
"That boy's paradigm don't always add up to four nickels...."
- scorpionmain
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Re: Bee Keeping
Saw the bees bringing in some red pollen today.
I am gonna guess that it might be Henbit.
I am gonna guess that it might be Henbit.
"Among the natural rights of the colonists are these: First a right to life, secondly to liberty, and thirdly to property; together with the right to defend them in the best manner they can."
–Samuel Adams
–Samuel Adams
- scorpionmain
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Re: Bee Keeping
My mom and my sister are starting to get interested in keeping bees.
I am gonna pass along my hard-backed The Practical Beekeeper by Michael Bush for them to read.
I am gonna pass along my hard-backed The Practical Beekeeper by Michael Bush for them to read.
"Among the natural rights of the colonists are these: First a right to life, secondly to liberty, and thirdly to property; together with the right to defend them in the best manner they can."
–Samuel Adams
–Samuel Adams
- scorpionmain
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Re: Bee Keeping
Ordered Huber's New Observations Upon Bees The Complete Volumes I & II
by Francis Huber for me to read.
by Francis Huber for me to read.
"Among the natural rights of the colonists are these: First a right to life, secondly to liberty, and thirdly to property; together with the right to defend them in the best manner they can."
–Samuel Adams
–Samuel Adams
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Re: Bee Keeping
I got this stuff all over.....honestly wasn't sure what it was......I can tell you it grows well in poor ground and hard to killscorpionmain wrote:Saw the bees bringing in some red pollen today.
I am gonna guess that it might be Henbit.
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."(Edmund Burke)
- scorpionmain
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Re: Bee Keeping
I wish this stuff would go away.
"Among the natural rights of the colonists are these: First a right to life, secondly to liberty, and thirdly to property; together with the right to defend them in the best manner they can."
–Samuel Adams
–Samuel Adams