Queen catchers


There are many designs of devices to catch queens – you will find what suits you best. The simple plunger- type makes catching and marking queens easy. The blue lid of these can be removed to allow the queen to be released from the front end, but I glue the lids on as they always come off and I lose them. A ‘crown of thorns’ is useful if you just want to constrain a queen on one comb during manipulations. The wood and metal ones are much more effective and durable than the plastic versions. (See page 44 for an ingenious homemade queen catcher.)


Matches and mini flame torch


I like the ritual of lighting a smoker with matches, even though a gas torch is much quicker. I keep a spare box of matches in the car but if I run out of them (or if they have become damp with sugar syrup), I have a mini-keyring gas torch as a very effective backup. Matches can also be used to pin cut-out queen cells onto frames and for hanging queen introduction cages between frames.


Frame rest


To hang one or two frames on the outside of a hive during inspections, frame rests are invaluable. They avoid having to place the frames on the floor where they can be kicked over, damaged and dirtied. I chose my current tool box because it was long enough to fit one of these.


ALSO IN THE BOX Latex/nitrile long-cuff gloves


Pens – for making notes (propolis on smartphone screens is unpleasant!)


Uncapping tool Drawing pins


Marking frames with drawing pins can show which need to be removed or where a queen cell is located. Elsewhere on the hive, they can be used for pinning numbers, ataching mouseguards or marking the outside of a hive as a reminder of something important. I keep a few pinned to the inside of each hive roof and always carry extra.


To check drone pupae for the presence of varroa, I keep an uncapping tool handy. But I plunge the prongs into a block of polystyrene for storage because they are needle-sharp and have drawn blood more than once when I have been rummaging around in my tool box.


A small pot of unscented talc – helps get sweaty latex gloves back on


Sports headband – keeps sweat out of your eyes during long, hot inspections


Secateurs – essential to keep out-apiaries fully accessible


Magnifying glass – with built-in LED lights for studying brood


Tweezers – to help examine the contents of suspect cells


Bee brush – wash aſter each use to keep the bristles soſt and disease-free. A handful of green grass works well as an alternative.


Wedge


A wooden door stop is a handy tool when replacing heavy supers onto crowded brood boxes. The wedge can be gently removed while giving a gentle puff of smoke, lowering the box without crushing any bees.


Gaffer tape


Gaffer tape (beter than duct tape which leaves a residue) has so many uses: for on-the-go repairs of hives and frames, to seal joints of boxes when wasps have found a way in, for temporary reduction of entrances when you can’t find an entrance block, and lots more. Some beekeepers use a strip of tape on the crownboard as a place to write their colony records. Make sure it is strong and waterproof.


Bee Craſt April 2020 Hive numbering


Engraved discs can be used to number your colonies. They are atached to hives or stands with drawing pins and last for years. I use black ones for the colony number and red ones for the queen number.


Tell us what tool or piece of equipment you couldn’t do without. editor@bee-craſt.com


Next month Bait hives


Scissors – small and sharp, kept clean and free of propolis for clipping queens


My favourite sting relief – in case a companion is stung and complains too much


A small hammer, pliers plus gimp pins and nails – for on-the-go equipment repairs


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