Jeff, Formic Pro's advantage to killing mites is that the acid penetrates the cell capping and kills the mites in the cells. However, this late in the season, the queen is typically not laying eggs and therefore there are no capped cells, so using a strong Formic Pro is not really needed. If you have been treating with OA you should be fine until early spring and use your Formic Pro after the queen starts to lay her eggs. Bee Safe, Dave EAS Certified Master Beekeeper

I've kept Russians and typically would not recommend them to first year beekeepers. Russians are usually very aggressive and sting more than other kinds of honey bees. I also found that they travel further away from the hive in that aggressive mode. They may reproduce more and grow in numbers, but the experience is not the same as an Italian. Dave EAS Certified Master Beekeeper

I prefer wine. Meade is okay but not smooth enough for my tastes.

Western MD has more activity than East for sure, but we did spot a small bear in Howard County in 2022.

That's why we call this the "Begining Beekeeper Course" because you learn about bees "The rest of your life." Keep learning and enjoying your bees.🐝

And here I thought it was my Bee Jokes! 😉

Let me call you, I have mentees who need equipment.

Arnie, the short answer is No. Standard Mann Lake frames for deeps are 9 1/8" deep. So if your deep depth made of dimensional lumber is 9 1/2" and your frames hang down 9 1/8" then you have 3/8" of space which is "Bee Space." 9 4/8" - 9 1/8" = 3/8" Personally, I buy the 12" boards and cut them down to 9 5/8" figuring the professional guys have the right idea. The cost of a 10" board and a 12" board isn't that much in the long run. If you really want to save money, use pallet wood and make your own boards, (I did that ONCE,, LOL) DD 2/20/2023

My lovely wife made me a super cool sign for my "Man Cave" bar in the basement. I looks like the top of a cask and has very beautiful artwork on top.