Last few weeks has been very frustrating and depressing. Depressing because my whole entire year dedicated to 2 bee hives might end up being 1 bee hive. I have a severe aggressive bee hive that probably has a high percentage of DNA from Africanized queen. The bees in hive 2 are so aggressive it's downright dangerous. As long as I don't do anything to them they're fine, but try and do something to the bee hive and your going to get the worst reaction from this bee hive. It reminds me of when I got the bees. Agitated Yes. For reasons justified yes it could be cause it had been cloudy, removed the sun sail cloth, hive beetle penetration and beetle trap installation.
I have been trying to get someone that can do a DNA test for my bees. Testing for percentage of Africanized bees. NC University does it apparently I think for $50. This after searching on line, emailing and phone calls for about a week. I have not contacted them. Why? Cause I am on the fence about destroying this bee colony. It's a dangerous situation to the community. I weigh my safety and the safety of the surrounding community daily. They seem to be calm currently and surprisingly the day after installing Apivar strips to both bee hives, the bees were back to normal.
What took place leading up to this? I called my favorite state bee inspector. She and I met and it was in a manner that she would not forget. When I called I went through the scenario of why she would remember me perhaps, she infact did. I being a rather self educated beginner took a Spring Bee class that was put on by the Central Texas Bee Association. The lady our bee inspector was giving a quick class on the health and welfare of bees. Different things that they can get like Tracheal Mites, American Foul Brood etc.... She skimmed over veroa mites and that being the #1 concern these years with bee keepers, I had noted that when she asked for questions on Veroa nobody raised any questions. I took it to open a can of worms by asking about sugar shake and count levels. I had seen video's on it by some other state bee inspector. Anyhow, she wanted to move on as time was clicking by, she was trying her best, but it seemed my couple questions turned into a 10 minute question and answer and I was laughing watching her struggle. She is young 25 or so and watching her reaction it was funny at the time.
So onward....... We had a 30 min conversation and she had recommended to do a mite count. Something I had not done. Since my bee hive #2 is aggressive, no way am I going to open it up to see if I need to treat by catching a cup of bees, putting them in a jar and shaking them in powdered sugar and doing a mite count. I was recommended that if I need to treat to use Apivar it's a 99% kill rate on the hive for Veroa Mites. 42 days you pull the strips out.
I order Apivar from Mann Lake $45 with shipping I think is what it was . 10 strips and what you do is place 2 stips in the brood chamber. Making sure it's placed where the bees will be. They crawl on it and get the chemical on them. Verroa mites drop dead. I have to empty out the West Beetle trap anyhow. So instead of doing that on Monday I waited for the Apivar to arrive in the mail.
Knowing my bee hive #2 is aggressive I get on my Denim long sleeve shirt, bib Overalls (Dickies Brand) and bee suit. Go light my smoker and smoke the bees, undo the straps, Come back over and get all my tools and stuff. Bring it over to the bee hive. Pop the top on Bee Hive 1 the non aggressive bees. Remove the honey super and place the Apivar strips into the Brood chamber. Put the Honey Box medium on and I am done. Strap it down.
Bee Hive #2 I lift the top and get a face full of bees. I take the honey box off (SUPER) and get a face full of angry bees. I at this time can not hear anything other then a loud buzz. Take the brood box off and expose the west beetle trap. Take that off the bottom board and clean it out. Put it back on. Put the Bee Hive back together. I am rushing and after everything was put back I realized that the beetle trap was crooked. Left side was down and right side was up. Not going to mess with it. It is what it is. I walked about a block away and the bees were still after me. Walked back down the street 1/2 block past my house and about 5 bees hanging out. Made a run for the door and got in the house without bees. Took off my bee suit and tossed it outside on the porch. Looked at the gloves and it's got quite a lot of stingers in it.
So, I have called the fire dept to find out what to do if I need to burn the bee hive. Were in a burn ban. They stated that if I have to then do it, but let them know by calling them. I called a guy the next day asking what to do about it and if he had any solutions. Can't requeen this late in the year. No drones available and I have not seen a drone in any of my 2 bee hives. Good thing is that in my researching DNA Testing of Africanized Bees I did find a company out in California that has artificial inseminated queens that prove to be veroa mite resistant strain through DNA breeding. I will be requeening next year with them. Expensive Yes! Worth it? It's about $75 with shipping on 2 queens.
A local bee keeper told me that they could just be aggressive. I wouldn't mind him coming out and taking a look, but unfortunately he's pretty far away.
Anyhow......... My wife suites up and goes in my shop steaming mad about the bees. A gallon of dish soap in 1 hand and screams furiously that she's done! She's had it! Well being mad doesn't help the situation and you can't exactly just go out and do something half caulked cause you'll just end up with a different mess. Anyhow....... The bees days are numbered. Either we get some cooler weather and they calm the FUCK DOWN! or they're going to burn. I refuse to deal with "HOT" bees.
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