End of the winter
Despite of uncommon course of winter and massive die-outs reported mostly from the western part of Czech Republic, our bees overwintered relatively well. Losses are simillar to the other winters and spring development goes on with first sources of forage - European hazel and spring bulbous plants. Spring snowflake (Leucojum vernum) came into bloom even at our apiary in Štíty.
Winter under the open sky
We had a small accident at our apiary in Štíty some two weeks before. Although the sheet metal coverings of all hives are tightly lined (ca 4"), one covering with insulating plate had been blown out by the wind and also the inner foil had been teared off. Everything is fixed now, but the colony had to stay two days and nights under the open sky, in snow slushes. Forced hardening should go without bad consequences according to the sounds heared from within the hive.
Strange guest in the hive
Even such a small creature can the beekeeper meet in hives. Despite of the terrible look, it is not dangerous at all - is smaller than 0,5 cm, lacks the venomous weapon on the abdomen and delicate claws look rather funny. But the mites sponging in the beehives are much more afraid of them. This nice animal called house pseudoscorpion or book scorpion (Chelifer cancroides) has thus the very similar mission as the cat hunting for mouses in country houses.
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