For an urban city farm, the Miller Farm produces a wide variety of products. I love the eggs. And, the honey Beekeeper Brian extracts is equally tasty.

<a href="http://judythewriter.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/2012-06-30_11-06-19_134.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1354 aligncenter" title="2012-06-30_11-06-19_134" src="http://judythewriter.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/2012-06-30_11-06-19_134.jpg?w=300" alt="" width="300" height="263" /></a>

Chicken Wrangler email today is about the bees on the farm.

<em>Today has been a bit busier than a normal. I added blood donation to my already full errand list.</em>

<em> When I</em><em> returned to the Farm, I discovered an interesting object on my kitchen counter. </em>

<a href="http://judythewriter.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/bottle-and-banana-peel.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1357" title="bottle and banana peel" src="http://judythewriter.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/bottle-and-banana-peel.jpg?w=225" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a>
<p style="text-align:left;" align="center"><em>It is a two liter bottle (which I had saved at Beekeeper Brian's request) which is about a quarter full of clear liquid with what appears to be a banana peel in it.</em></p>
<em> </em><em>This last part was confirmed by the discovery of both ends of the banana peel in the sink. Now being married to Brian for 25 years, I know this is something he has done.</em>

<em>I suspect it has something to do with the bees. </em><em>Just in case you need a little humor to lighten your day,  any other guesses? </em>

<em>I'll</em><em> let you know what this contraption is </em><em>when I find out.</em>

Then the next morning this Chicken Wrangler email arrived.

<em>A moth trap! </em>

<em> </em><em>Apparently there is a type of moth that takes up residence in bee hives and greatly hinders honey production. They are extremely attracted to the clear liquid in the two liter bottle which is actually a mixture of sugar, water and honey.</em>

[caption id="attachment_1358" align="aligncenter" width="300"]<a href="http://judythewriter.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/varroamiteonahoneybee.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1358 " title="VarroaMiteOnAHoneybee" src="http://judythewriter.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/varroamiteonahoneybee.jpg?w=300" alt="" width="300" height="300" /></a> If you look closely, you can see the moth mite on the bee's neck.[/caption]

<em>The banana peel puts off some gas thing as it ferments that is extremely unattractive to the bees so they are not tempted to join the moths in their final swim.</em>

<em>The banana must ferment for two days so tomorrow the  bottle will go out back near the bee hives. I'll report back on the success of the "two liter bottle/banana peel moth trap."</em>

<em> </em><a href="http://eberthoney.com/honeybeeblog/blog4.php/main/?paged=12"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1359 aligncenter" title="WaxMothDamage" src="http://judythewriter.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/waxmothdamage.jpg?w=300" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>

<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter"><dd class="wp-caption-dd">A hive destroyed by wax moths. Note the larva in the honeycombs.</dd><dd class="wp-caption-dd">Learn more about the wax moth and bees: http://eberthoney.com/honeybeeblog/blog4.php/main/?paged=12</dd></dl><em><em><em>Now I am sure we will all sleep better having solved this mystery.</em></em> </em>

<em>~~Sara - who never ceases to be amazed at the wonders her husband discovers</em>

I, too, am amazed at the things Beekeeper Brian can do. Some blog we'll talk about his fly-fishing skills or his woodcrafting bowls or his dulcimer building skills. A multi-tasking beekeeper-farmer that Brian.

YOUR TURN: Ever found something unfamiliar on your kitchen counter?