I’ve tried several different methods of mite control, feeding etc. and it has no effect on survival!
RESPONSE: Mites are a really tough pest to control. You should be monitoring and use more than one control option. We have to mix up our options. Sorry you have not found the formula of what works best for you yet. Check out the Tools for Varroa Control on the Honey Bee Health Coalition websitewww.honeybeehealthcoaltion.org/varroa
I think another question you might put on is asking how much honey the beekeeper left for the bees to overwinter on.
RESPONSE: I do not believe most beekeepers KNOW how much honey they are leaving on their colonies. Only a few beekeepers weigh hives – most estimate the amount (from hive hefting – and I have used hive hefting as a field day activity and you would not believe how much variation occurs in the answers (like guessing how many candies are in a jar). And if we wanted to add it to our survey what date would be appropriate for this determination? I appreciate the suggestion but I do not believe we would get meaningful responses that would then help us understand overwintering losses.
The survey doesn’t give an option for “I would like to…” in the question about what things have helped us. As it’s only April and we’re just starting beekeeping this year, we’re still trying to find beekeeping mentors, classes that actually fit our schedules, and other local resources, so would love to be able to indicate interest in those things 😉
RESPONSE: The last open section is exactly for your adding something like “I would like to….” Please consider adding that information. Most short courses/classes on bees are in Feb and March – there will be very few for rest of the year….and those that will be offered are often for more advance beekeepers (such as courses on queen rearing, our Journey courses in the OR Master Beekeeper program). Courses are offered early in the year so beekeepers can start this year. What is still available however are the monthly meetings of the bee associations. Many have an open Q&A session so you can ask an expert – some have a meeting before the meeting to get questions answered. Check out the OR State beekeepers site orsba.org for the nearest local group to where you live.
Question relating to how we obtained bees did not provide an option for buying a hive from another bee keeper (it wasn’t a package or a Nuc). Thank you for your interest in bee keeping.
RESPONSE Question 4 has several options for your response – including the last line other – you could have entered your data on that line.
I don’t understand the sanitation question (maybe the 3rd or 4th)
RESPONSE: thank you for your comment. Apiary site selection means we can reduce drifting and help our bees stay in their proper hives by how we site our hives in the apiary. I am working on further explanation to help better explain – I think we do too little on basic sanitation with our bees and that makes mites stronger and more of an issue in our high colony losses.
I do use screened bottom boards but for the screen portion and always the bottom in place. The question Sec. 6b “Do you use screened bottom boards assumes that the screens are open some or all year” my response does not fit the options.
RESPONSE: So if unsure how to respond leave the question blank and put a comment like this under the comments. It sounds like the responses are YES use screen bottom boards but No do not leave them open.