Walnut Farm Bees Newsletters

Lanternfly "honey" is continuing to flow in some areas of Pennsylvania--we've been seeing it in our colonies in Cumberland county. Early varieties of goldenrod also continue to pop up across the state, with pollen and nectar starting to show up in colonies in the northern part of the state. Start to monitor your colonies weight now so that you're not caught by surprise in October. There can be a SIGNIFICANT difference from one location to another, even within a few miles. Natural sugar (nectar) is ideal, but not always possible for some areas. Keep your varroa mite levels as low as possible, and if you are treating your colonies, monitor them to make sure your treatments worked. Waiting until mid September is often too late from a virus perspective, and those are the colonies that crash in the fall or late winter. If you have small hive beetles in your area, keep your oil traps baited and colonies strong or appropriate size boxes (too much space on a small colony can mean disaster). If you're in an area with black bear activity, there is no better time than now to get a good electric fence in place before the fall when bears are more likely to look more desperately for food.

1. NEXT WAX DIPPING DATE is scheduled for September 21, and because it is September, it is very weather dependent. Drop anything off anytime now and up to that morning. 
2. WE ARE ALMOST SOLD OUT OF FORMIC PRO, and we may not restock until spring because of the expiration date and current jump in prices on Formic (it is a Canadian product). We do have other organic mite treatment options in stock including EZ OX oxalic acid powder, Varroxsan oxalic acid strips, and Apiguard (thyme based product).
3. SPRING HONEY is in stock in sizes from 1lb - 5lb. Pollen (fresh/frozen as well as dried) is also in stock.
4. WHILE WE ARE DONE MATING LOCAL QUEENS FOR THE SEASON, we will have a limited number of Latshaw Carniolans on hand through mid September for emergency needs (contact us in advance if you need one, sometimes takes a day before we can get one ready for you). Remember that from late September on, usually you're better off just combining a colony rather than trying to requeen late in the year (especially a small colony).
5. WE HAVE SMALL ELECTRIC EXTRACTOR RENTAL AVAILABLE WEEKLY, next available opening is Friday, September 11 (return by following Wednesday), $30 + tax.