Beekeeping Podcast - Let's Talk Bees - Episode 61

Let's Talk Bees - Episode 61

Welcome to Let’s Talk Bees Beekeeping Podcast – your place to catch up on all the buzz from our live Q&A beekeeping podcast, hosted by Laurence Edwards of Black Mountain Honey.

Every other Friday at 7:30pm BST, Laurence goes live on YouTube to answer your questions in real time. The livestream is called Let’s Talk Bees, and it’s a friendly, no-nonsense Q&A format that’s perfect for beekeepers of all levels. Whether you're a first-time beekeeper or running dozens of colonies, there's always something new to learn.

In this blog, you’ll find the full video replay of the latest session at the top, followed by a complete written summary of the questions and answers covered during the stream. It’s ideal for those who prefer to read, take notes, or quickly revisit specific advice.

Got a question of your own? Tune in live and ask away. Let’s Talk Bees is where the UK beekeeping community comes together – one question at a time.

What is the difference between your UK mated F1 Buckfast queen and your premium F1 Buckfast queen?

A: The Premium F1 Buckfast queens are the best of our breeder stock, reared in Malta at scale. The UK F1s are very similar in genetics — both are top-tier. The only difference is the location of mating.

After going in on Wednesday for a swarm check, should I go back in on Saturday for a routine inspection?

A: Yes — go back to your regular 7-day inspection cycle after your intervention. You did the right thing checking midweek.

Should I replace a 4-year-old queen before winter? Is the beginning of August too late to requeen?

A: Beginning of August is a very good time to requeen — colonies are very accepting then.

What queen marking pens do you recommend now that the ZR pens aren’t available on Amazon?

A: TOMA pens are good alternatives.

Picked up a small swarm today. Should I requeen? Can I requeen a hive of local bees with a Buckfast queen?

A: You can give the swarm a chance — sometimes they produce good bees. If you requeen with Buckfast, be aware that the darker/AMM-type bees can be harder to requeen and may supersede. Check for supersedure cells every few days.

Would a Demaree method work with a new queen, or should you be better double brooding?

A: Works very well with a young queen. It does reduce queen lifespan slightly, but increases honey yield.

Is lemongrass oil a good swarm attractor?

A: Yes, it is very effective — mimics queen pheromone.

What are the options for creating more space in a Flow Hive that’s on double brood and supers?

A: The main option is regular tapping of the Flow supers and bruising any capped honey in the brood box to encourage movement of stores upwards.

With this exceptional start to spring, do you think we'll have an early June gap or a gap at all?

A: The season is compressed — we might see an early or no June gap, but likely a big gap at the end of the year unless rain changes that.

Is it a good idea to vape new splits with oxalic acid?

A: No particular benefit unless it's a swarm with no brood. Otherwise, treat normally later.

What age is suitable for having kids in the apiary?

A: As long as a responsible adult is present at all times, kids can be introduced safely — your proposed setup sounds fine.

Is it best to feed splits straight after making them, or leave them for a few days?

A: If weather is good and nectar is coming in, don't feed. If it's poor weather or you move them to a new site, feed straight away.

How long does it usually take for bees to cap honey supers?

A: Depends on weather and colony size. If poor weather keeps bees inside, they’ll cap sooner. If sunny, they prioritise bringing in more nectar first.

Are some bee colonies just not as good as others, even if they are strong?

A: Yes — work ethic and genetics vary. Some colonies gather more honey than others despite similar strength.

When doing an artificial swarm, can I leave the queen and take a cell and bees, or will they still swarm if the cells are capped?

A: If the cells are capped, the colony has already swarmed or is about to. For an effective artificial swarm, always remove the queen and leave one open cell.

My bees are bearding. They have plenty of super space but not much brood space. Why?

A: Could be ventilation-related — check if your ventilated floor is blocked or restricted. Bearding is normal in warm weather but worth improving ventilation.

Would a Demaree method work with a new queen?

A: Yes — works very well, already answered above.

What's the best way to cover the roof vent on your nukes?

A: Use Kingspan or Celotex or any insulation board to keep heat in and rain out.

Why are my bees making swarm cells 4 weeks after introducing a nucleus?

A: Possibly due to insufficient space or a perception of a boundary (foundation wall effect). Check whether it’s supersedure or swarm cells: 1–2 cells = supersedure; 3+ cells = swarming.

What is Hive Q? Is it part of your membership?

A: Hive Q is a new online beekeeping course: 140 videos to take you from beginner to competent in 14 days. Launches October 2025.

After a Demaree, does the honey that ends up in the former brood box become impure due to dark comb?

A: No. It can be moved upstairs safely. If you’ve used treatments like Apivar, the wax itself is tainted and shouldn't be used for extraction.

After a Demaree, how hard should you bruise capped honey to encourage bees to move it?

A: Lightly — just enough to break the cappings. Don’t uncap completely or cause honey to run out.

How long does it take to fan down and cap nectar if a super is full?

A: It depends — warm rainy weather speeds it up as bees stay inside; during sunny weather, capping takes longer as bees prioritise nectar collection.

Is there any benefit in using oxalic acid vape on newly made splits?

A: No particular benefit unless treating a broodless swarm.

Can you sterilise old frames with a blowtorch like you do a hive?

A: Yes, but the safest approach is to burn old frames. If you blowtorch, ensure no disease risk is present.

How do you add space to a Flow Hive to prevent congestion?

A: Regularly tap Flow supers and bruise any honey in the brood box to encourage movement upwards.

How can I prevent swarming if my hives are full and I just removed Apivar so can’t add supers yet?

A: Make splits. If you can’t add space, splitting is the best way to reduce swarming impulse.

Both my hives had sealed swarm cells, but the queen was still there. How unusual is this?

A: Not that unusual — if you inspect early on the day of a planned swarm, you can find capped cells and the queen still present.

Can small groups of bees accompanying a virgin queen on mating flights look like a small swarm?

A: Yes — this is normal. A mating swarm with a virgin queen can look like a small swarm.

Should I remove inspection trays from polyhives in hot weather?

A: Yes — improves ventilation in hot weather.

Should I feed syrup after a split?

A: Only if necessary — if a nectar flow is on, no need to feed.

Can you rub a block of wax over plastic frames, or do you have to melt wax?

A: You can rub a block of wax over — works fine but takes a little time.

How soon should I check a split for queen cells?

A: Day 8 after making the split is the standard day for checking/removing queen cells.

Should I use a clearer board when taking off supers?

A: No — I use a petrol blower to clear bees from supers.

Do you put a water source in your apiary?

A: No — I rely on natural water sources nearby. In Wales, there’s usually plenty.

Can laying workers or a second queen cause brood in supers?

A: Likely laying workers if you see lots of drone brood and no new eggs after shaking bees out.

How soon should I inspect a new mated queen to check if she is laying?

A: Seven days after you release her.

How do you introduce a mated queen?

A: Remove old queen and wait 8 days. Remove emergency cells, introduce caged queen.

Wait 24 hours before popping the tab. Leave 7 days before checking.

How many frames of brood should be in a nuke before selling it?

A: Our six-frame nukes typically have 2–4 frames of brood and 2–4 frames of stores.