JC's Bee Blog

 Do you have a oxalic acid Pro Vap 110? Let's face it the Pro Vap is a great tool but it can be a hassle to power if your bees are not near an electrical outlet. Just last week I purchased this Battery Tender DC power invertor just for mite treatments with my Pro Vap and yesterday I put it to use.  As you can see in the above picture, I also purchased the additional power port cord but it is not heavy enough wire to power invertor while using Pro Vap. The invertor must be hooked directly to your battery with the heavy duty battery cables.  After it's hooked to your battery and the vehicle is running, a heavy gauged extension cord is pugged in to invertor and the other end to the Pro Vap. (The extension cord I used was only 20 foot long) It was awesome to not have a generator blaring the whole time I treated. In the past that was my go to method to power my Pro Vap but not anymore.  If your looking to make your Pro Vap treatments easier I highly suggest this DC power ...

Do you use an escape boards to harvest your bees surplus honey? I got a chance to try out one of Cerecell Beekeeping Supplies new escape board and was very impressed.  TOP VIEW BOTTOM VIEW               Things I like About It Made of 100% virgin food grade plastic  It's available in 8 and 10 frame  Available in 8 or 10 Frame dimensions

  Small Hive Beetle Facts Females hive beetles may lay up to 1,000 eggs. Eggs are laid in cracks and crevices inside the hive. Eggs Hatch in about 3 days (range 3-6 days) Larva feed on pollen, honey and brood inside the hive. Larva leave the hive and enter soil around the hive from 7 to 10pm (peak at 9pm). Remain as larva in soil for 3-5 days. Mature larva are about 1/4" to 3/8" in length. About 83% of larva enter soil within 12 inches of hive. Roughly 80% burrow into the soil to a depth of 1-4 inches.  Hive beetle larva pupate after being larva for 16-19 days. Pupal stage lasts about 8 days. New adult hive beetles emerge from soil several days after becoming adults. Dry soils are more favorable to adults development. Life cycle of shb averages 27-30 days. Adults are known to live 188 days Adults hive beetles hide during winter inside honey bee colonies and in honey houses. Small Hive Beetle larva crawling out to enter soil   Common Practices That Will Help Lower Beetle C...