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elderken
New Bee
Joined: 11 Aug 2014
Posts: 6
Location: USA, Arizona, Rimrock (Center of the state)
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 Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2014 1:01 am Post subject: How small a hive opening for a new, queenless, colony? |
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My queenless, cutout bees working brood comb and hopefully making queen cells are now 4 days in a 36" Top Bar hive box. They have a 1 3/8" round entrance on the lower part of the end of one side. Screen bottom. Being concerned about robbing, I'm thinking of reducing the entrance hole size. How small do you recommend?
Thx! |
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rmcpb
Scout Bee
Joined: 17 Jul 2011
Posts: 447
Location: Blue Mountains, NSW, Australia
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| Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2014 6:47 am Post subject: |
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Are they being robbed? If not then I would leave it alone.
Cheers
Rob. |
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biobee
Site Admin
Joined: 14 Jun 2007
Posts: 1063
Location: UK, England, S. Devon
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| Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2014 7:43 am Post subject: |
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| I have a robbing problem in one apiary and entrances are down to half a cork, split lengthwise. It helps, but it's very hard to stop. |
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Smorning
Foraging Bee
Joined: 20 Aug 2013
Posts: 152
Location: Faversham Kent UK
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| Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2014 5:02 pm Post subject: |
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| Likewise hive was great two weeks ago now totally dry robbing bees are hard to discourage reduced entrances and fed unfortunately (with honey), hope they survive but it's looking 50:50 |
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imkeer
Foraging Bee
Joined: 03 Oct 2011
Posts: 203
Location: Belgium, Antwerpen, Schilde
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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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Barefoot Beekeeper Podcast
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4th Edition paperback now available from Lulu.com
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