Since they are all basically Dadant bees I would think you could contact Dadant and Sons and find out who they authorize as dealers/breeders in Midnite bees. At least the Starlines and Midnites used to be their lines of bees.
Can't say why bees might need salt. I have a small cattle operation near my bees and I keep a salt block for the cows use. It has included trace minerals. During the brood rearing season and after a rain, the area has so many bees around the salt block the cattle seek other parts of the pasture. I can only assume by observation that the salt block contains some elements that honeybees need.
Has anyone noticed that bees tend to build better on darker frames? Or is it just me? I double coated both black and yellow plastic frames with wax, and gave one hive all black frames, and the other all yellow ones. Both hives had 8 frames of brood on the bottom box, and the black frame box...
I have been called to remove the bees in a water meter. i presume they have gone through the keyhole in the lid, and are in the meter cavity underground. anyone have a idea how to recorver the bees to a swarm bucket?
Do bees get to know their handler? I keep my bees close to buildings where I can easily inspect them as I go about farmwork. They will even land on me occasionally if I linger in their flight path. I seldom wear protective clothing when handling them and experience few stings. What do more...