My one had a reduced entrance (mouse guard), but in hindsight Inshiuld have reduced further
You should have reduced further to prevent Wax Moth gaining access Adam?
I read thatâs pretty much impossible, and a narrower entrance is better than a taller one, but still Wax moths sneak in easily at night.
Skeggley, in some of your other comments you say that you do not inspect regularly because of fire restrictions and canât use the smoker, could it be that the hives had some other issue that may have been missed? Maybe hives became queenless, or just not yet strong enough. I also read somewhere that you now have some moth traps (was that you?). So could it be that those traps are working, not the bottom boards and open entrances?
Literature I read all says that a grub or two is not uncommon and strong hives keep them well under control. That is my experience so far with them (only four years of beekeeping, and Iâm not pretending I know more than I do).
I suspect that with so many Flow hives and screened bottom boards, and probably a fair few with reduced entrances, if that becomes a magnet for wax moth, the problem would be more widespread by now. Or maybe it is âŚ
A strong hive will have 20-30-40,000 bees? But I do not know how the bees get rid of them. They sting them, and a bee dies each time? They bite them?
Your argument is still valid Skeggs, just trying to see a bigger picture.
I have a question related to nectar flow in Perth region. Since it looks like Marri flowering is coming to its end, I am looking at Colemanâs Honey Flora Table and Flowering Time Chart trying to understand if anything else of significance could be expected here. These documents cover whole WA area and because of amount of information I am struggling to connect Table and Chart in my mind geographically. So I hope someone with deeper local experience may tell me what happens next in the season if anything? Or it is time to pack up and prepare for winter? 
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You can use FloraBase to place natural distribution, and some non-endemic. Perth, depending on your location will have street scape and garden sources too.
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I find that table and chart overwhelming. Ultimately I find it quite irrelevant for a stationary beekeeper like me. What matters is whatâs flowering in parks and gardens in a 2km radius around me. There can be a native tree in my local area, but if it is not close enough, it doesnât really matter if it is in flower or not.
This document is something different, but may be of interest, probably you guys already know about it.
Bee Friendly
A planting guide for
European honeybees and
Australian native pollinators
by Mark Leech
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Thank you Adam. It is very valuable resource.
My situation is just slightly different. Within 2km radius I have about 5km long stretch of mighty Canning river with whatever natives growing along its banks. Sadly I cannot tell one eucalyptus from another and hoped to narrow down identification effort to those few species that produce enough nectar to notice it. That is why I started form Coleman. But data there is painted in too wide strokes to be useful to me too.
So far I had 2 distinctive flows. First in November was quite moderate and of light amber colour. I did not notice what it was collected from. The second, better one was from Marri trees. I guess the only way to find if there is something else in store is to wait and see what happens next. 
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Oooh, itâs quiet out there, whatâs going on in the aviary neibours?
A new kid. Dodging a virus. Wondering where all the toilet paper wentâŚ
Not much is going on in the aviary but in the apiary I hope to find out soon. Iâm due a harvest!
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Well congratulations mate and damn you autocorrect.
Finally got an inspection in today. Hereâs the outcome:
- Excellent coverage and general internal hive activity. Nice and calm too
- 6 flow frames capped and ready to harvest
- 3 flow frames uncapped but suitable for harvest
- 4 traditional frames full and capped
- Solid brood and/or eggs on frames 1 to 4, with a small amount of drone comb
- Play cup on the edge of frame 4
- Frame 5 to 6 were mostly brood but some pollen
- Frames 7 and 8 were split pollen and brood. Iâd say almost 50-50 overall but it varied depending on the side of the frame
- 1 spider
- 3 small roaches (1 beneath the roof, 2 on the pull out board below the screened bottom)
- 6 wax moth larvae (3 on the outer edge near the key holes on the full flow super, 2 on the edging of the pull out board below the screened bottom, 1 on top just below the inner cover)
All in all, Iâd say healthy and well.
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Well congratulations
Thanks 
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Another harvest on Sunday with the bees showing a bit of interest at the back of the hive for the first time for a while suggesting the flow has tapered down.
Hi are there any beekeepers in the Hovea / Parkerville / Darlington area ?
Keen to know how their hives are doing and strategies.
Cheers
Hi everyone!
Just did a quick inspection of one hive. Seeing how quickly bees became restless I decided not to touch the second one. It gets cranky even in best of times.
What have I seen? Plenty of bees and drones. Even some drone brood here and there. Queen was definitely laying less. Reasonable storage of bee bread but no fresh pollen whatsoever. Second brood box have had about 50% of honey 3-4 weeks ago. Now not above 30%. Two full outer frames in the bottom box. Maybe 4-5 kg of honey in super positioned in arch pattern. The show is obviously over.
This season results. The better tempered hive - 62.6 kg of harvested honey. Grumpy one - 52.3 kg.
Verry interested what others have got around Perth and its surroundings?
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Well the season has definitely come to a close. There is equilibrium in the hives with the honey stocks maintaining the same levels for about 3 weeks now.
In line with others this year was a bumper. One hive produced just on 60Kg and the new hive 30Kg. Not only has the family and friends been looked after, we have about 2 years of honey on hand.
I had a brief peak inside both hives when the blossom died and everything going gangbusters. The weather for the last week or so has been not good for inspections but there are some great days coming up later this week so I will have a good look at everything.
Just in case anyone was wondering, I am leaving the flow supers on over Winter. I did this last year and found it got the hive off to a great start in Spring. I did find it strange though that the first honey taken from the flow super crystallised within a couple of days. This year the Flow super on one hive is about 60% full and the other a bit less at 50%. I have enough variety of trees to provide nectar and pollen throughout Winter if the conditions are Ok for the bees to fly. Last year the honey in the flow super only diminished by about 10% be it that it was moved around the cells and used.
Stay safe and separated
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Welcome back Busso. Youâve had a good season
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Hi busso, crystallisation is one of my worries if I leave the super over winter. If the honey ever crystallises in the flow frames, would it be a problem to harvest the frames. Can they become hard to crack open and damage them?
Having never harvested flow frames I donât even know how much force is required to open frames with runny honey.
I wouldnât worry to much of honey crystallising in the frames. I donât think the bees would tolerate it.
With regards the opening. Little force is required if you open the cell in about 4 or 5 goes. I use a lackey band as a gauge marker. Sliding the band up the key to the next spot. If you search there is heaps on opening the cells in the forum.
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âI wouldnât worryâ
That is exactly what I want to hear. Thank you.
You guys are harvesting up to 60kg, per hive - that is impressive. I was hoping I can harvest 20kg in a year.
Iâm going to need more jars⌠and more friends.
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