 A newly emerged Virgin Queen and several Small Hive Beetles (SHB) exploring the brood chamber. Photo by Eric Malcolm, October 2, 2025. | Time in the Yard: 2 hours 30 minutes Avg Time per Colony: 14 minutes Time in the Barn: 7 hours Avg Temp: 66.6° Total Precipitation: 0.12" Note: Consider applying entrance reducers and feeding, as needed. |
Actions:
Cleaned up equipment from dead outs and old stored equipment. Froze boxes from last week’s visit. Replaced broken equipment, consolidated colonies and combined (1). Sampled colonies for project (6) and checked queen status (12).
Observations:
Three colonies recently superseded their queens. Two will need to be requeened or combined. All others were queen right. Most colonies are going through their food stores and will require feeding next week.
Reflections:
We were surprised that colonies with abundant food stores at past visits were so light this week.
Things in bloom:
Chicory, Clustered Mountain Mint, Daisy Fleabane, Bearded Beggarticks, New England Aster, Late Boneset, Groundsel Tree, Panicled Aster, Blue-stemmed Goldenrod, Common Wrinkle-leaved Goldenrod, White Wood Aster
Cleaned up equipment from dead outs and old stored equipment. Froze boxes from last week’s visit. Replaced broken equipment, consolidated colonies and combined (1). Sampled colonies for project (6) and checked queen status (12).
Observations:
Three colonies recently superseded their queens. Two will need to be requeened or combined. All others were queen right. Most colonies are going through their food stores and will require feeding next week.
Reflections:
We were surprised that colonies with abundant food stores at past visits were so light this week.
Things in bloom:
Chicory, Clustered Mountain Mint, Daisy Fleabane, Bearded Beggarticks, New England Aster, Late Boneset, Groundsel Tree, Panicled Aster, Blue-stemmed Goldenrod, Common Wrinkle-leaved Goldenrod, White Wood Aster