Acid rain

With the cold weather the queen should have stopped laying altogether, or drastically reduced the eggs laid per day. This means that the varroa should mainly be on the bees, which is apparently the perfect chance to zap them with some oxalic acid. From what I know about acid, however weak, I can't imagine the bees like being sprayed or dripped with acid, but apparently they deal with it better than the mites, that just drop dead (oh, how I wish they all would!).

They say you learn from your mistakes - it's a lie (to quote Vaya Con Dios). Having once been unsuccessful in my attempts to access the bees without a beesuit (when I wrapped them up for the winter), I didn't think that it might be better to start out with a beesuit right away. There is something about the baggy blue boilersuit that makes me not want to put it on. Must be to do with getting legs and arms trapped in opposing sleeves and legs and being semi-strangled by the garment. Anyway, I did without it, believing the bees to be dormant, semi-frozen, huddled around the honey, having a nice winter meal.

Only fools rush in

Opening the hives was not easy as the bees had done a thorough job of sticking the crown board down and the insulation I had strapped on gave little purchase to the hive tool. As soon as I managed, the bees flew up and out. So much for huddling somewhere warm. They were not particularly fast or dangerous, more Sopwith Camel than Fighting Falcon, but even the Camel can get dangerous. There were also so many of them that I felt a retreat to reclothe might be wise. While not aggressive I was not sure how they would react when a syringe filled with acid approached their home, hive and castle, let alone how they would take being soaked in acid. Not without a fight, I imagined. Once again it was great to have pupils along, as they held the fort while I battled the boilersuit. Them I had of course dressed in beesuits right from the start.

Bees not where they should be

Back at the hives, I dripped the acid into the seams between the hives. It should be 5ml in each seam, but even though I had pratised getting the dosage right in the kitchen sink, it was a bit more difficult on site, especially when the volume markers are turned away. I managed well enough and I hope the bees will forgive me the fractions too many dripped in some seam and the varroa take the hint in the seams underdripped and die nevertheless.

Chemical warfare

Finally I placed some fondant on the frames, just in case the bees run out of food. While the hives felt heavy and the bees looked healthy, I don't plan on going into the hives till March, so in case their stores don't last till then, they have the fondant.

A packet full of fondant

Fingers crossed that all goes well till spring, if spring decides to come to this green and pleasant land.