Requeening during mite treatment.

SmithN · Post by **SmithN** » Sat Sep 20, 2008 8:40 pm

Is it ok to requeen a hive while being treated with Api-Life Var? Will the bees be less likely to accept her with the wafers on? Or should you wait until after the treatment?
SmithN

Post by **Wally** » Sat Sep 20, 2008 9:08 pm

Remember what they say about opinions, and this is just an opinion.

I would not requeen this late in the fall. The eggs for the winter cluster are being layed at this time, and a week of no eggs could possibly reduce your winter cluster by 5 to 10 thousand bees.

I have never used Api-Life Var, so I can't comment on it.

SmithN · Post by **SmithN** » Sat Sep 20, 2008 9:32 pm

Thank you for your opinion Wally, your advice is greatly valued. Would you transfer a laying queen with 3 or 4 frames of brood and bees from a nuc to a queenless hive this late in the year?

Post by **Wally** » Sun Sep 21, 2008 8:37 am

I would combine them like this.

Remove the top and put a screen on top the queenless hive , remove the bottom from the nuc, place nuc on top the queenless hive. Cover any remaining space with a piece of plywood or similar. Leave for TWO weeks, then combine. That gives the queenless hive time to realize they are queenright and accept her.

PS. be sure the nuc has an entrance above the screen.

SmithN · Post by **SmithN** » Sun Sep 21, 2008 1:59 pm

Thank you Wally, sounds great, that's the way I'll combine them.