Dealing with Wasps in the Apiary.

Robbing.

A couple of beekeepers near me have just lost colonies to wasps robbing them out. Small colonies and nuclei are especially vulnerable at this time of year. I keep my hive entrances small throughout the year because bees in the wild choose nest sites with entrances around 12cm squared over larger entrances. It is much easier for them to guard small entrances.

This Growing Nucleus Has a Smaller Entrance to Defend

Investigating Options.

I’m currently looking at special entrances that exclude wasps. For now, I need to take action as the wasps are numerous and desperately seeking sugar. I tried marmalade in water but that attracted bees. Several died. Margaret Adam’s recommendation of a sugar/water solution with added vinegar is working a treat. The jar traps I made have caught many wasps each day. Honey bees dislike the smell of vinegar and avoid these jars altogether. I placed one jar near each of the hives.

Sugar Syrup with Apple Cider Vinegar, and a Few Drops of Washing up Liquid to Hasten the End for Wasps.
Cover Jar with Clingfilm and Perforate Top.

Other Measures.

I feed sugar syrup at night (if I have to) and avoid spillage. If I need to inspect a colony I take the shortest time possible. I leave supers covered by a crown/cover board (with feed holes/Porter bee escape holes covered) when I move them aside to inspect the brood box. As a rule, I don’t inspect colonies after swarm season is over unless I’m checking them to ensure a laying queen is present, or during a disease inspection.

1 thought on “Dealing with Wasps in the Apiary.”

  1. Fascinating piece on the defense problem that a honey bee colony faces when the yellow jacket wasps get hungry. Shows well one of the reasons why the bees chose nest sites with small, and thus defensible, entrances. Important! Nice trick of adding vinegar to attract wasps but repel bees.

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