More mite killer

I went to Snohomish to pick up more mite killer for hive #6. I have put numbers on all of my hives, stick-em ones for the hardware store. It really helps. Like naming them.

A woman from Bellevue was there with her husband. She was tight lipped and coldish and cautious and asked lots of intelligent questions. She had bought a house with hives, and they were taking it over. They had lost half, or more. When she asked questions she leaned up against a wall.

When I got back to my hives, I opened up the mite infested one, and added more apilife var. Then I pulled out all the other mite boards to see if any other seemed to deserve a treatment. None did. None had more than 10 mites, and some, only one or none. So maybe this is ok.

I actually have no idea whats going on- they seem chockful and yet not touching any syrup. One hive did, but others don't. And now the Maple is blooming- at least north of town. Is that what they are gathering?

Tomorrow I will weight them all again- I think this is a good idea. I have no idea how it might vary, or even, how to interpret changes. I really need to go through these hives. But as I can't get queens, I don't know what id do if i found no brood. I wouldn't combine yet. They all seem fine. In fact, I should be splitting.

I am reading a book about the history of the hive- and the different innovations.

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