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Post by steve on Nov 5, 2004 17:57:47 GMT -7
How much damage can yellow jackets do to a hive of bees.
There are yellow jackets entering the hive to rob honey but the honey bees arn't tyring to keep them out.
Please advise.
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Post by HarryVanderpool on Nov 5, 2004 19:28:59 GMT -7
As much as we all hate yellow jackets, they serve their purpose in the food chain.
They greatly reduce disease by starting the rapid removal of dead carcasses, be that of a deer or bees.
Honeybee hive defense against yellowjackets really turns into a numbers game. Strong, healthy honeybee colonies can defend themselves against yellowjackets with a full entrance.
When the robbing season is upon us, I reduce the entrance to about 2" opening.
If a colony can't defend that, they have other problems.
Also If your boxes are all rotted and there are entrances all over the place, that can make it harder for the bees to defend.
Check out your populations. Combine weak hives, but not diseased ones.
A couple more frosts, and the jackets are history.
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