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BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: Acebird on December 31, 2010, 01:03:50 pm

Title: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: Acebird on December 31, 2010, 01:03:50 pm
I pulled the tray out of the bottom and this is what it looks like:


(http://i697.photobucket.com/albums/vv333/acebird1/Bee%20Hive/Warmspell003.jpg)

(http://i697.photobucket.com/albums/vv333/acebird1/Bee%20Hive/Warmspell004.jpg)

(http://i697.photobucket.com/albums/vv333/acebird1/Bee%20Hive/Warmspell005.jpg)

(http://i697.photobucket.com/albums/vv333/acebird1/Bee%20Hive/Warmspell008.jpg)

(http://i697.photobucket.com/albums/vv333/acebird1/Bee%20Hive/Warmspell001.jpg)

Is this a high dead bee count?  I have no idea if more were revealed from the snow melting but I would say it is at least triple the count that I saw yesterday.

All opinions are welcomed on what you see.
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: G3farms on December 31, 2010, 01:48:03 pm
large black dots ..............small hive beetles
small black dots...............mites
yellow and brown dots......wax cappings from the honey stores they are eating
white dots......................not sure, are you feeding dry sugar? or it could be snow pellets

dead bees are just part of the winter thing, some go out on cleansing flights and get too cold to make it back in, others are old and weak, while some will die in the hive and are taken out by others.

Bee poop on the side of the hive is a sign they are taking cleansing flights.
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: Acebird on December 31, 2010, 02:21:36 pm
We looked up the SHB and convinced ourselves that is what they looked like.  When I zoomed into the photo we were sure the small brown dots were mites.  I went out to the tray just now and rubbed the white pieces together between my thumb and finger and that too feels like wax.

The bees are flying around like crazy in front of the hive right now so I am going to wait before I put the tray back.  They are definitely pooping.  We saw that yesterday in flight making tracks in the snow.

So, you think the death count is normal and the amount of pests on the tray is not alarming at this point?
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: G3farms on December 31, 2010, 03:22:03 pm
Looks about normal to me, mite count might be a little high.

Yes the white could be wax cappings also.
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: FRAMEshift on December 31, 2010, 03:44:46 pm
I'm thinking the white stuff is wax scales dropped during comb building.  The yellow is cappings with some pollen coloring.
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: buzzbee on December 31, 2010, 03:46:28 pm
I would think the white may be from cappings on new drawn comb filled with honey,while the darker may have been severely travel stained cappings or from cappings from honey stored in the broodnest.
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: rdy-b on December 31, 2010, 05:22:04 pm
  looks like your cluster is down to about 3-4 frames of bees -if it gets down to 3 frames its a wobler -RDY-B
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: rdy-b on December 31, 2010, 06:09:32 pm
  oh and one more observation-at a quick glance- :) -your hive is entirely to level
 you need to have a slop towards the entrance -reason bieing if water condenses   in side of top it will run to the side wall and run out the entrance-and wont hurt your bees that way-its a easy fix that you should do -or not  :lol: RDY-B
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: AllenF on December 31, 2010, 07:31:48 pm
All those dead beetles look good to me.   :-D   Maybe a few more will get run out of the cluster to freeze.
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: Acebird on January 01, 2011, 10:24:52 am
  looks like your cluster is down to about 3-4 frames of bees -if it gets down to 3 frames its a wobler -RDY-B

I would like to know how you know this and also an explanation of the term "wobler".
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: Acebird on January 01, 2011, 10:30:10 am
 oh and one more observation-at a quick glance- :) -your hive is entirely to level
 you need to have a slop towards the entrance -reason bieing if water condenses   in side of top it will run to the side wall and run out the entrance-and wont hurt your bees that way-its a easy fix that you should do -or not  :lol: RDY-B

Great observation.  The outside cover is actually pitched to the back at about 1/2 per foot.  The hive and so the inner cover is bang on level.  I thought if it was good for foundationless it would be good for foundation.
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: hardwood on January 01, 2011, 11:15:39 am
Even with foundationless hives it's good to tilt them a bit forward so that water runs out the bottom board and (in your climate) condensation runs from the cover to the front wall and down.

With foundationless hives you need to level them side to side...not so much front to back.

Scott
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: Acebird on January 01, 2011, 11:24:15 am
Even with foundationless hives it's good to tilt them a bit forward so that water runs out the bottom board and (in your climate) condensation runs from the cover to the front wall and down.

With foundationless hives you need to level them side to side...not so much front to back.

Scott

Now see, I would have had to read four chapters to get this bit of information and it came to me without even asking.

I am curious though, why does it make a difference if the hive is pitched toward the front or toward the back?
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: AllenF on January 01, 2011, 11:29:22 am
Pitched to the back and the water runs through the hive on the bottom board to the back of the hive.  Take it out the front door and off the front ledge.
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: Acebird on January 01, 2011, 11:30:42 am
Everyone,
Please take another look at the tray.  Notice that there is more debris (chewings) toward the front (north) and the left side (east).  Anybody have any ideas on that?
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: Acebird on January 01, 2011, 11:44:39 am
Quote
Take it out the front door and off the front ledge.


If you get a chance, do a vacation in the wintertime up in the Aderondack's.  Notice all the icicles hanging off the roofs up here.  The minute that water rolls to the front porch (so to speak) it will freeze and create an ice darn like what you see on every edge of the roofs up here.  That would seal up the entrance in no time flat.

The second entrance is also used as an emergency exit.  In a natural hive in the trees the snow and ice doesn’t close off the only entrance.

Just thinking now, a better approach would be to pitch the hive to the back and drill exit holes in the bottom board along the back wall to expel the water.
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: AllenF on January 01, 2011, 12:03:57 pm
Down here, we just don't see that much ice.   :-D
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: Acebird on January 01, 2011, 02:52:12 pm
It's into the 40's today and I had the top off again to smear some cappings on to the inner cover.  They are really active today and I think they liked the honey treat.  At least some of them did.

This time I noticed the exposed wood of the top cover was really wet in the center and toward the south east.  I don't know why I didn't notice it before.  Because the cover is covered with tin it suggest in my mind that frosting, or at least condensation is happening on the bottom of the top cover.  There is no evidence at all of moisture on the top of the inner cover.  The condensate must have run down the back and gone outside the hive because of the way the cover was tipped.  Again, I did not pull the inner cover off, but I can't see how it would have made any difference based on how many bees were buzzing around.
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: rdy-b on January 01, 2011, 08:29:26 pm
  looks like your cluster is down to about 3-4 frames of bees -if it gets down to 3 frames its a wobler -RDY-B

I would like to know how you know this and also an explanation of the term "wobler".
The Tao of Kung Fu #1 - "Fear is the only darkness." (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5kBqrHphjo#)
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: Acebird on January 01, 2011, 09:01:56 pm
Rdy-b,

I can see everything with you is going to be a riddle.  Are you trying to tell me you are blind old man that sees grasshoppers?
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: rdy-b on January 01, 2011, 09:50:31 pm
  take a break and look around -you need more time -have some fun
  I have seen thousands and thousands of botom board trash-it tells a story of what been going on
 in the hive -no ridel open your mind -think like a bee is the first thing -your in a hard climate -your doing fine
 happy new year -RDY-B
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: G3farms on January 01, 2011, 10:09:30 pm
 :lau: :lau: rdy-b you crack me up with that video
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: rdy-b on January 01, 2011, 10:36:46 pm
  HAPPY new year G3- ;) RDY-B
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: Robo on January 01, 2011, 10:38:35 pm
I would like to know how you know this and also an explanation of the term "wobler".

Look at the piles of debris,  it is clear that the 3 middle frames is where most of the bees are and the outer to frames (top of photos) have partial frames of bees.   If it where 10 frames of bees, the debris pile lines be consistent between all 10 frames.  
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: Acebird on January 02, 2011, 11:48:17 am
Quote
If it where 10 frames of bees, the debris pile lines be consistent between all 10 frames. 


Wouldn't you expect more debris in the middle because of the cluster.  It has been explained to me that the cluster is like a soccer ball that expands and contracts to control the cluster temperature.  If it is really cold it is small and tightly packed.  That means no bees are out at the edges.  That also explains why they starve when there is still honey available.  That's what I have been told anyway.
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: rdy-b on January 02, 2011, 03:40:08 pm
  not always sometimes the bees are on the side -would be the suny side- :lol: RDY-B
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: Acebird on January 02, 2011, 03:52:07 pm
Actually that is where the debris is - toward the sunny side.  So if they run out of stores don't they move to where there is some.

Maybe I should mount the hive on a lazy suzan and spin it 180 half way through the winter? ;)
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: rdy-b on January 02, 2011, 05:35:45 pm
Actually that is where the debris is - toward the sunny side.  So if they run out of stores don't they move to where there is some.

Maybe I should mount the hive on a lazy suzan and spin it 180 half way through the winter? ;)
heres another approach -he is having great success with this wintering technique-RDY-B
http://www.beesbatsandbeyond.com/Assisted_Heating.html (http://www.beesbatsandbeyond.com/Assisted_Heating.html)
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: Acebird on January 02, 2011, 07:18:32 pm
You really think that is the answer?  I am still hanging on to the theory that cold temperatures don’t make or break the hive surviving.  Some people insulate the top cover up here.  Almost everybody wraps the hive on three sides (leaves the front uncovered).  I can see where heat tape will mess up their instincts.  There are too many people having success without the Styrofoam and heaters to warrant pampering the hive to this degree.
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: rdy-b on January 02, 2011, 07:47:31 pm
  If i where you i would run a Homasote board-I bet alot of keepers are doing that where you live-RDY-B
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: Robo on January 02, 2011, 07:48:27 pm
You would be amazed at how much a few watts of heat help out,  especially on colonies that are low in numbers.

http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,11721.0.html (http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,11721.0.html)

Also search on Finsky's posts,  he has some remarkable results with softball sized clusters.
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: hardwood on January 02, 2011, 08:14:46 pm
That's when you have to play hard ball with a soft ball :-D

Scott
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: AllenF on January 02, 2011, 09:04:15 pm
Soft ball don't hurt as bad as a hard ball.
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: Acebird on January 03, 2011, 09:50:55 am
 If i where you i would run a Homasote board-I bet alot of keepers are doing that where you live-RDY-B

There are a few that tried it and could decide if it was any more beneficial than the roofing wrap.  Insulation can only hold the heat in that the bees produce.  Like Robo’s night light heater the roofing wrap adds heat to the hive in addition to what the bees make.

Robo, multiple entrances??  Somebody’s going to yell at you.  :-D
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: Robo on January 03, 2011, 11:03:07 am
Robo, multiple entrances??  Somebody’s going to yell at you.  :-D


Actually no.   Those photos where from 2007 and if you read the details,  I closed the bottom entrance completely.  But for the last 2 years,  I have switched to 2" thick insulation board on top of the polystyrene hives with no upper opening,  and no longer use/need the lights. A small lower entrance and two 1" screened vent holes in the back of the bottom board, and even small colonies keep warm enough.

I agree with Mike and believe the majority of moisture issues is do to feeding syrup.  I've never had any issues with hives that haven't been fed.  I also believe that a lot of dead hives that are attributed to moisture are incorrectly diagnosed.   When a hive dies off,  moisture sets in quickly and misleads the beekeeper.   Case in point.  I went through about 20 poly nucs on Saturday,  all with the same configuration of a small 3/4" bottom entrance and a 1/4" vent/drain hole in the bottom.  I found one dead with a very tiny cluster.  The bottom was very wet and the bees and frames area around them where wet.  The other 19ish where bone dry.  At first glance,  one would say moisture.
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: Acebird on January 03, 2011, 11:23:54 am
Quote
Those photos where from 2007 and if you read the details, I closed the bottom entrance completely. But for the last 2 years, I have switched to 2" thick insulation board on top of the polystyrene hives with no upper opening, and no longer use/need the lights. a small lower entrance and two 1" screened vent holes in the back of the bottom board, and even small colonies keep warm enough.

Ah, come on now.  What are you doing, getting ready to write an outdated book?  Don’t show me your fangled dangled hive heater and then say your not using it anymore.  I haven’t got time for that.  I’m not a spring chicken, ya know. :-D :-D

Quote
I agree with Mike and believe the majority of moisture issues is do to feeding syrup.

There are too many Mikes to know which one you are referring to.  Is this the real Mike?
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: Robo on January 03, 2011, 11:49:01 am
Ah, come on now.  What are you doing, getting ready to write an outdated book?  Don’t show me your fangled dangled hive heater and then say your not using it anymore.  I haven’t got time for that.  I’m not a spring chicken, ya know.

I never said I wasn't still using them,  in fact I have an owl box swarm I picked up in the fall that I have heat on.  What I said is that I have refined my method further to not need the heater.   By providing a well insulated hive and not allowing heat to escape through ventilation, supplemental heat is not needed.

I won't waste my time wasting yours anymore,  I'm not getting any younger either.   Best of luck............
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: Acebird on January 03, 2011, 11:57:53 am
I apologize Robo, I forgot the smiley.

I was only pulling your leg.  Please forgive.
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: Acebird on January 03, 2011, 12:08:24 pm
Quote
By providing a well insulated hive and not allowing heat to escape through ventilation,

All the water in the honey that the bees eat to survive has to go somewhere.  If it does not escape the hive by ventilation it must come out as condensate.  It would be good to know where that is going.  A rough calculation is about 7.5 pounds of water for every gallon of honey they eat.  I would think you would see some wet spots.
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: rdy-b on January 03, 2011, 03:59:29 pm
 If i where you i would run a Homasote board-I bet alot of keepers are doing that where you live-RDY-B

There are a few that tried it and could decide if it was any more beneficial than the roofing wrap.  Insulation can only hold the heat in that the bees produce.  Like Robo’s night light heater the roofing wrap adds heat to the hive in addition to what the bees make.

Robo, multiple entrances??  Somebody’s going to yell at you.  :-D
the Homasote is not for insulation-it is placed between the iner and outer cover to ABOSRB MOISTURE-and is very efective -you should find out if you can -there are others that swear by them-and most dont understand what they are
 Homasote is the type of material-very absorbent --RDY-B
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: Acebird on January 03, 2011, 04:36:26 pm
Quote
the Homasote is not for insulation-it is placed between the iner and outer cover to ABOSRB MOISTURE-and is very efective -you should find out if you can -there are others that swear by them-and most dont understand what they are
 Homasote is the type of material-very absorbent


Oh!  Okay, I will buy that it is absorbent but the moisture it traps will freeze and there is only so much it can absorb.  Holding moisture at the top of the hive doesn’t sound good to me.

Ya know, I probably should mention that on our first dead hive we had a Styrofoam top feeder on during the winter, using sugar water and all.  We didn’t want to starve the bees you see.  I put a pane of glass on top of it so I could pull off the top cover to watch the bees feed or drown for some.  We think the feeder created our whole moisture problem.  So this year it is no feeder and watch for moisture.  I will let you know in the Spring which one we like better.
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: rdy-b on January 03, 2011, 04:57:03 pm
 you change them out-without disturbing the hive-by simply taking top cover off and leave
inner cover on-dont use it- no bigy -at-least you are learning about moisture-and Im sure by now you know the bees wont
break cluster to use that feeder-not to mention cold syrup or the problems associated with it-so what is the plan to keep the hive warm and dry-your not taking advice-from any one --and we already now that your shooting in the dark -what is going on with those bees are they gona make it-whats the plan--RDY-B
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: Acebird on January 03, 2011, 05:21:19 pm
 
Quote
by now you know the bees wont
break cluster to use that feeder

yep we sure did.

Quote
not taking advice-from any one


Gees, this part I don't get.  Someone in our own back yard tells us to do something and someone in Florida or Texas tells us we did it all wrong.  If the guy in Australia tells me the guy is Texas is wrong then where do we go?

I got to tell you most of the bee hives in Upstate NY are not even excessable during the winter.  We could fool with ours every 20 minutes.  But thousands of hives never have a chance of being serviced by a human during the winter time so why should we?

Quote
what is going on with those bees are they gona make it-whats the plan

The plan is if they don't make it we will get another nuc.  If they do make it I will attempt a trap out because we have a friend that has a barn full of bees.  I am also contemplating catching a swarm if our hive decides to do that.
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: T Beek on January 03, 2011, 05:36:37 pm
Quote
the Homasote is not for insulation-it is placed between the iner and outer cover to ABOSRB MOISTURE-and is very efective -you should find out if you can -there are others that swear by them-and most dont understand what they are
 Homasote is the type of material-very absorbent


Oh!  Okay, I will buy that it is absorbent but the moisture it traps will freeze and there is only so much it can absorb.  Holding moisture at the top of the hive doesn’t sound good to me.

Ya know, I probably should mention that on our first dead hive we had a Styrofoam top feeder on during the winter, using sugar water and all.  We didn’t want to starve the bees you see.  I put a pane of glass on top of it so I could pull off the top cover to watch the bees feed or drown for some.  We think the feeder created our whole moisture problem.  So this year it is no feeder and watch for moisture.  I will let you know in the Spring which one we like better.

  Thanks for finally mentioning that, it does explain some things you've posted, now tip your hives slightly forward.  Its good advise that should be taken.  You really had forty degrees?  I could only wish.....on second thought, I'll wait for March for that:-D.  My best advise to you acebird is to start at the beginning of this forum and "read" everything.  Good Luck to you.

thomas
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: Acebird on January 03, 2011, 07:09:14 pm
I don't know what the record is but we usually get a January thaw that yields pretty high temps.  I have witnessed as high as 70 degrees which is not normal.  It's not known if this is the actual January thaw  or yet to come(bitter cold usually follows).

Sorry for the laps of memory on the feeder thing.
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: T Beek on January 04, 2011, 06:51:00 am
We get a January thaw "usually" but that just means it'll be above freezing for a day or two.  Never seen 70 in January in Northern Wisconsin, end of March, maybe.  Those kind of temps can cause much stress on colonies when there is no forage, so its also the time to investigated and feed if needed.

thomas
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: buzzbee on January 04, 2011, 07:36:48 am
Better bee sells a styrofoam top cover that stays warmer below than the typical metal covered tops. If you make it so the side of the boxes are colder than the top,water will condense there instead. It will then run down the sides and out the bottom if it's tilted slightly towards the opening.

http://www.betterbee.com/Products/10-Frame-Wooden-Hives-and-Components/BeeMax-Telescoping-Cover-for-Wooden-Hives (http://www.betterbee.com/Products/10-Frame-Wooden-Hives-and-Components/BeeMax-Telescoping-Cover-for-Wooden-Hives)
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: Stone on January 11, 2011, 10:55:28 pm
Regarding those white specks on the bottom board: I had those my very first winter of beekeeping (This is my second winter) and couldn't figure it out until I tasted them.  It was crystallized honey. It couldn't have been sugar because I didn't feed my first year. I have no idea how it got on the floor. I also found the same thing inside many cells.

And regarding the ventilation and moisture issue: I'm converting my top bar hives to Langs this year but my TBHs were a mess the first winter because I didn't provide the proper ventilation. LOTS of dead bees and mold all over the place when I opened them up in spring.

Then I thought about the simple lessons on convection I've been teaching my students in science for nearly thirty years and I realized what a dolt I had been for not seeing this myself.  We all know that cold air sinks and hot air rises. We just have to provide an exit for the warm air before it condenses. Just think about when you forget to put on the exhaust fan in the shower: beads of water on the ceiling.

I drilled holes on the same side as my entrances - but toward the top end -  screened them and there is the solution. The bees propolize the screens in the openings they don't want.  I believe Michael Bush has commented on top entrances/ventilation also. I've read many posts on the subject and the consensus seems to be that moisture is a much bigger threat to the colony's survival than the cold is.

My future hives will all have ventilation holes on the top supers or on those 4 inch high supers called "baggie feeders".

The homosote idea sounds like a good one. Sort of a take off on the Warre idea of the quilt box. But I don't know if I'd want to fuss with that.  I'll just make sure there is lots of ventilation at the top and see how that works.

Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: T Beek on January 12, 2011, 08:40:52 am
I've been using "both top and bottom entrances" on a couple hives for five seasons now.  Many (most?) ferrel colonies also have two entrances.  I'm convinced in its effectivness in helping to keep the hive inside dry.  Also use SBB with the trays in place on all my hives but one (last experiment).  As for the white specks; Pure, new wax will taste very sweet.  That said, Its always a mystery (to me) what the bees decide is trash and what is not sometimes.  In the spring, before anything has begun blooming around here, even if I've fed, my bees are all over the old cat litter I've dump around the garden perimeter all winter, rolling in it, seemingly playing, and for whatever reason, taking some of it back to the hive.  Hasn't hurt them yet as far as I know, its a "corn" based product though, so that does concern me with all that's been written about same.

One of my favorite aspects of keeping bees is still the mystery of it all.

thomas

Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: Robo on January 12, 2011, 09:46:02 am
Then I thought about the simple lessons on convection I've been teaching my students in science for nearly thirty years and I realized what a dolt I had been for not seeing this myself.  We all know that cold air sinks and hot air rises. We just have to provide an exit for the warm air before it condenses. Just think about when you forget to put on the exhaust fan in the shower: beads of water on the ceiling.

I drilled holes on the same side as my entrances - but toward the top end -  screened them and there is the solution. The bees propolize the screens in the openings they don't want. 

Larry,

Perhaps by trying to manage moisture by convection we are fighting with our bees.  They don't seem to lay out their nest to take advantage of convention when left to their own.  I don't want to sound like a broken record on this topic, so I'l PM you some more info.
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: Stone on January 12, 2011, 02:39:06 pm
T Beek,

I take your word for it that "pure new wax will taste very sweet".  But this stuff dissolved in my mouth and was crunchy just like crystallized honey.  Couldn't draw any other conclusion for this one.
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: T Beek on January 12, 2011, 02:43:58 pm
T Beek,

I take your word for it that "pure new wax will taste very sweet".  But this stuff dissolved in my mouth and was crunchy just like crystallized honey.  Couldn't draw any other conclusion for this one.
Woe...sorry, wasn't meant as a dispute.  Its likely what you've described. OK?

thomas
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: Acebird on January 12, 2011, 07:32:53 pm
In my case I did mash a few of the white ones between my fingers and it rolled together like wax would.  I suspect that who ever mentioned it that it was wax in my case.  I am reluctant to stick something in my mouth unless I know what it is.
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: T Beek on January 13, 2011, 08:28:46 am
Since I put nothing inside my hives that is bad for me or mine, I'd put (and have) anything from inside my hives inside my mouth, including bees :-D

thomas
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: rdy-b on January 13, 2011, 06:12:50 pm
Since I put nothing inside my hives that is bad for me or mine, I'd put (and have) anything from inside my hives inside my mouth, including bees :-D

thomas
  yea but gota pass the smell test first--- :-D  RDY-B
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: sterling on January 13, 2011, 06:56:33 pm
Since I put nothing inside my hives that is bad for me or mine, I'd put (and have) anything from inside my hives inside my mouth, including bees :-D

thomas
I have seen things inside my hives that me or the bees didn't put in there.  :-D:devilbanana:
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: T Beek on January 13, 2011, 07:36:09 pm
we don't have to be repulsive about it my friends, I know how sick some of you can be ;).  Guess I would'nt put a dried up mouse in my mouth, (never had one yet).  One has to know their limitations after all, but its been fun non-the-less :camp:

Definately better than it seems 8-)

thomas
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: hardwood on January 13, 2011, 08:01:04 pm
I'll suck down a larva or two when grafting :-D I'm not touchin' those roaches or spiders though...EWWWWW!

Scott
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: T Beek on January 14, 2011, 07:16:30 am
I'll suck down a larva or two when grafting :-D I'm not touchin' those roaches or spiders though...EWWWWW!

Scott

Yeah, bee larva is nearly 100% protien and not "bad" tasting at all raw, and they can be "very delish" when fried slightly in oil, same with cockroaches (not the germans), I use to cook up a few dozen at a time for regualr meals back a lifetime ago.  Some spiders are also eatable too, never done that though.

thomas
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: kingbee on January 16, 2011, 02:01:08 am
bee larva is not... "bad" tasting... same with cockroaches... Some spiders are also eatable too...

And you though that the man who first ate a raw oyster was the bravest man in the history of the Earth! Ha
Title: Re: What's up Doc. take a look...
Post by: T Beek on January 16, 2011, 10:31:18 am
Oysters are easy, you don't "have to" chew :-D

thomas