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I've inherited a couple of langstroth hives which i'd like to setup with nukes this year. Are they any beekeepers in the Central belt using langstroth hives that might have nukes available later on? Any help gratefully received.

Tom

Twenty seven beekeepers signed up for our beginners class in Dundee this year, 21 of them first-timers and 6 who were around last year. They're a fine bunch, as you can see from these pictures.

Week three and its artificial swarm time already. Now, which box goes where?



We are trying (trying, mind you) to keep the lessons light and lively. So on Tuesday we had four established beekeepers line up ...

Stopped by at the apiary this afternoon and was pleased and surprised to see the strength of the colonies there. First one, 10 seams of bees, almost wall to wall (they're in single National brood boxes). Next one, 10 seams (! - I've never seen the like), one weak one at maybe 2 seams (it had been blown off its stand, but maybe it has a queen problem?), the other one which had been tipped over by the storms had maybe 5 seams, then the last two had 9 and 9 seams. None were desperate for more feed. ...

I have been away from home since 30 December at work in Mexico and got back last night.
My bees must thrive on lack of disturbance as all seem to be fine bar one nuc which had a duff queen and was down to a frame of bees by December. This one was like the Marie Celeste with only about 20 dead bees plus the dead queen on her own on a separate frame of sealed stores. No surprise there as I had already marked that one down as a basket case.
It was being robbed out so I moved it away. ...

It hit the heights of 12C in the Carse of Gowrie at lunchtime so I wondered if the bees were out enjoying themselves. Oh yes! Spring has definitely arrived. The carpets of snowdrops were gaping in the unaccustomed warmth, waiting for guests to come to do the business, and the bees were obliging. There were a few small flies up and about, but what other insect could possibly service these flowers' need for a bit of genetic mixing?

So it was time for my annual attempt to take decent ...