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Last Week in the Apiary - 2nd Week of November 2025

11/17/2025

A top down view of a top feeder looking down the center slot. Bees are congregated at the bottom of the feeder slot immediately after feeder has been refilled with 2:1 syrup.

Feeding the last round of 2:1 syrup with bees at the bottom of the feeder. Photo by Eric Malcolm, November 13, 2025.

Time in the Yard: 1 hour 14 minutes
Avg Time per Colony: 3 minutes
Time in Barn: 6 hours
Total Colonies: 27
Avg Temp: 45.8°
Total Precipitation: 0.05”

Note: We did not have time this week to switch out damaged equipment due to time limitations. We will plan to replace equipment in the spring.

Actions:
Mixed 53 gallons of 2:1 syrup using a 50 gallon drum mixer and large aluminum pot set up. Fed colonies (24) 2 gallons of 2:1 syrup each.

Treated colonies (6) with Api-Bioxal (oxalic acid dihydrate), 4 grams per brood box. Vaporization method.

Observations:
Bees are much less active outside of the hive during the cooler days. We only did a second round of OAV treatments on colonies with high mite loads from our final mite checks performed in October.

Reflections:
Feeding does not take nearly as much time as making 2:1 syrup!

Things in bloom: Japanese Camellia, Sasanqua Camellia, Common Chrysanthemum

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Last Week in the Apiary - 1st Week of November 2025

11/11/2025

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A beehive being treated with ApiBioxal using a battery powered Oxalic Acid vaporizer, which is hanging off of the front of the hive entrance. The applicator nozzle is inserted into a small hole in a homemade entrance and screened bottom board cover to prevent vapor from escaping during treatment. On top of the hive is a hive tool, second plunger to administer the correct dose of oxalic acid dihydrate, a brick, and a broken entrance reducer.

Treating colonies with a battery powered oxalic acid vaporizer and insert to cover the entrance and openings of the screened bottom board. Photo by Eric Malcolm, November 5, 2025.

Time in the Yard: 2 hours 22 minutes
Avg Time per Colony: 5.26 minutes
Total Colonies: 27
Avg Temp: 50.6°
Total Precipitation: 0.27”

Note: To legally apply the new dosage for Api-Bioxal, beekeepers are required to have the product with the new label affixed by the manufacturing facility.

Actions:
Confirmed colonies were alive and applied Oxalic Acid Vaporization (OAV) treatments. Took records of hive boxes that needed to be replaced prior to winter.

Treated colonies (27) with 4g of Api-Bioxal (oxalic acid dihydrate) per brood box. Vaporization method used.

Observations:
Our newly purchased Api-Bioxal application instructions include updated dosage of 4g per brood chamber. Some colonies had little or no entrance activity while others were very active. All except one colony was of a gentle temperament during treatment.

Reflections:
Weather is slowly getting cooler and we’re planning to get one more round of 2:1 on before switching to feeding fondant.

Things in bloom:
Common Chrysanthemum, Tatarian Aster, Elegant Zinnia, Yellow Cosmos, Common Yarrow, Japanese Camellia, Sasanqua Camellia

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Last Week in the Apiary - 5th Week of October 2025

11/3/2025

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Apiary manager, Eric Malcolm, pouring about 2 gallons of 2:1 syrup from a white 6 gallon bucket into a top feeder on top of a beehive. The beehive is centered in the picture and surrounded by agricultural fields and trees line the background.

Feeding the bees 2:1 syrup using a top feeder. Photo by Eric Malcolm, October 27, 2025.

Time in the Yard: 3 hours 12 minutes
Avg Time per Colony: 8.35 minutes
Time in the Barn: 6 hours 15 minutes
Total Colonies: 27
Avg Temp: 51.4°
Total Precipitation: 1.08”

Note:
Bees fed 2 days earlier in the week were nearly halfway through their 2:1 on the 3rd day! Feed your bees if they’re not HEAVY.

Actions:
Cleaned up dead out equipment that was stored in the barn, culled frames with wax moth damage and culled broken hive bodies.

Treated stored brood frames with B402 Certan and set out to dry, in preparation for winter storage.

Made 45gal of 2:1. Fed 2 gallons of 2:1 syrup each (22). Combined weak colony (1).

Observations:
Bees were not very active outside of the hive during the cooler days but had many bees inside. Without use of smoke, bees were quick to (briefly) show signs of alarm. 2 colonies were still heavy with food stores. One colony absconded.

Reflections:
Wax moths have been very active on the equipment stored indoors. Next season, we will plan to freeze, then treat frames with B402 Certan as soon as they come out of the yard, if they can not be used on other hives immediately.

Things in bloom:
Chicory, New England Aster, Panicled Aster, Aromatic Aster, Black-eyed Susan, Gray Goldenrod, Common Chrysanthemum, Tatarian Aster, Elegant Zinnia

A close up of three honey bees on the ventilation hole of the inner cover at the top of their hive showing exposed stingers following the quick removal of the telescoping outer lid.

Bonus picture: Honey bees releasing alarm pheromone upon the removal of a telescoping lid. They calmed down immediately after. Photo by Eric Malcolm, October 27, 2025.

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