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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?
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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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You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
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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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4th Edition paperback now available from Lulu.com
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