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dubluvva Nurse Bee
Joined: 06 Nov 2011 Posts: 28 Location: England, West Yorkshire, Huddersfield
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Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2014 10:25 am Post subject: Comb covering observation window |
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Last year my girls decided they wanted some privacy and covered half of the observation window with comb! It is attached all the way down, with the window being the base of each cell, and was filled with honey. They also built along the top bars, with very little cross combing, so I can't really complain! The top bar combs do not meet the comb of the window. My question is, should I remove it later in the year, given that it is going to be quite messy and they may simply build it again. If I should remove it, when would be the best time? I would like to be able to check on them without opening the hive. |
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biobee Site Admin

Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 1063 Location: UK, England, S. Devon
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Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2014 11:01 am Post subject: |
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You have just discovered the downside of observation windows!
The very first TBH I built, back in 2001, had a large acetate observation window on one side and the bees attached comb all over it. For reasons that are clear only to bees, they do seem to have much more of a tendency to attach to transparent materials than to solid.
Beeswax is almost impossible to remove from plastics without scratching them, which factor tends to favour glass as a window material over Perspex/Plexiglass. You can carefully scrape a glass window when the bees are not occupying the space. If you are cleaning up an empty hive, judicious use of a heat gun may help. |
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dubluvva Nurse Bee
Joined: 06 Nov 2011 Posts: 28 Location: England, West Yorkshire, Huddersfield
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Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2014 11:16 am Post subject: Comb covering observation window |
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Thanks Phil. As I'm hoping the girls will stay I will respect their decision and leave it there, contorting myself to see round it as best as possible! |
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Quality Top Bar Hives by Andrew Vidler
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Conserving wild bees
Research suggests that bumble bee boxes have a very low success rate in actually attracting bees into them. We find that if you create an environment where first of all you can attract mice inside, such as a pile of stones, a drystone wall, paving slabs with intentionally made cavities underneath, this will increase the success rate.
Most bumble bee species need a dry space about the size a football, with a narrow entrance tunnel approximately 2cm in diameter and 20 cm long. Most species nest underground along the base of a linear feature such as a hedge or wall. Sites need to be sheltered and out of direct sunlight.
There is a spectacular display of wild bee hotels here
More about bumblebees and solitary bees here
Information about the Tree Bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum)
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