Concerted action.

On Wednesday, Feb 5, The Wellington Bee Club suggested 

1. we all attack varroa at the same time (Feb 18) so it would be far less likely that we reinfect each other in robbing season and thus go into Winter all good, and

2. that none of us use flumethrin/tau-fluvalinate (brands Bayvarol and Apistan) because mites mutate and get immune to it so giving them a rest is wise. 

We were late and put in our amitraz (Apivar) today, but we did an extra summer Apistan treatment so we believe we haven't been a hot bed of varroa in the last twelve days. 

While there we saw Rachael but not Malka, though both hives were happy and there were teeny tiny larvae. Rachael's hive was noticeably more peaceful as a monarchy than they were when they were a republic. We took one last frame of honey from Malka's hive (because you spin them two at a time and 7 is an odd number). 

A new friend.

I thought I wanted a Roman name for an Italian Queen. A name with resonance of not being barren, bellicose or leaving one's homeland with half the populace in tow. I read a lot of potted biographies and hadn't really found something. 

And then we met. 

I was so glad to see her that I needed her to have a name so I could greet her immediately! Isn't she bee-eautiful! Her little back is black and her lovely long abdomen is golden with no stripes. She stands out from the crowd with her style and presence, and as she runs (she's so fast) through them, the crowd loves her. 

So I called her Rachael, a name resonant with being a hard-working mum of fine daughters, a name that likes to do preserving, and that likes things nice and organised. 

Look at how well organised her brood is! So proud. 

Meanwhile, Malka is doing so well that we took another seven frames of capped honey off her hive. 

Hippolyta's daughter has babies!

Those little white dots in the cells at the top of the photo are approx 3-day old eggs, which means that three days ago someone in the Flow Hive laid them. Most likely, since there is only one in each cell and they seem to be down the bottom, a queen bee. 

Hooray! 

We didn't keep going because we thought that leaving her in peace at this stage was more likely to be a successful beekeeping strategy than looking for her would be. 

Meanwhile, Malka and her family are keenly making honey while the nectar flows.