Wow good to know Gino, thanks.
I believe it’s the sulphur dioxide that keeps dried apricots yellow. I was
introduced to the “brown” (unadulterated) apricots by a friend, she wouldn’t
have the “normal” kind. I don’t really know why Sulphur dioxide in Apricots
would be considered toxic (at least to humans). Sulphur dioxide SO and water
H2O turns into Sulphuric acid H2SO4 of course but I can’t imagine it would be
exactly concentrated ! I bet the bees notice it more than we would though.
Interesting.
ttfn
Ann
From: Gino Sprio
Sent: Friday, November 3, 2017 6:24 PM
To: oxnatbees@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [oxnatbees] Re: Time to remove feeders
Hello
La Patisserie in Kidlington 01865 372078, sell fondant in 12.5kg boxes for
about £15.
You will need to call them to order it, takes about a week.
The stuff they have ordered for me has no sulphur dioxide in it, which is often
added as a preservative.
Hope that helps
Gino
On 3 November 2017 at 14:53, Mary Baker <maryevelynbaker@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Dear Paul
I would like to come to the meeting on 16th. I have some questions about
feeding, which maybe you would be able to answer at the meeting?
1) I only have one box full of bees. I gave them two feeder-fulls, 2kg of
sugar, I think. I stopped because you warned us about the cold - it was the end
of September. Then I was shocked to think I could have carried on into October
it was so mild. Have they had enough? Could I put some food into the bottom?
2) How do you feed during the winter? I have a spare quilt box as I thought
it would help with feeding.
3) I want to mix some wool that I picked off fences and washed, with the
chippings in the quilt box, would that be all right? I feel the wool would be
warmer but I haven't enough to fill the box.
4) Can you wrap the whole hive up to keep it warm?
Thank you
Mary
> On 25 Oct 2017, at 12:58, Paul Honigmann (Redacted sender "paul.honigmann"
for DMARC) <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> Bees need a minimum ambient temperature to process nectar or syrup into
honey, and soon the weather will be too cool for them to make use of syrup. At
that point, a feeder in the top of a hive can cause problems, depending on type.
>
> I use top feeders in my Warres, by removing some insulation in the quilt
and placing them there. Once the bees have drunk them dry, these are simply an
empty volume in the middle of their quilt, and a chimney for losing heat. Also
some people find that once they are empty the bees begin building comb in them.
So once the bees are finished feeding for the year, it is best to remove them
and replace them with insulation again.
>
> This doesn't really apply to other feeder types which are placed inside the
hive, so feel free to ignore this advice. Internal feeders may give other
problems, but they don't lose heat. I continue to favour the top feeders though
because (1) the bees below keep the syrup warm and (2) I can open the hive
(roof) and pour in syrup without the bees coming out to defend against me.
>
> Oh, and if you haven't done so yet, it is definitely time to fit mouse
guards.
>
>
>
> Paul
