This Month in the Apiary – September
- Treatments should have been completed, making sure you have read the instructions and know if and when you need to remove them to avoid resistance.
- Boards should have been monitored and a note made of the best and worst colonies for varroa loads. use this information next year when rearing queens.
- Unite small colonies. They are unlikely to survive if they are small. Make sure they are disease free.
- If taking nucs through the winter keep checking they have sufficient stores.
- Feeding should be finished by at least the middle of September. As temperatures drop the bees cannot remove the water in the feed and it may ferment and cause dysentery.
- If still feeding use a thick syrup with a rapid feeder. feed all colonies in the evening to avoid robbing and don’t spill syrup.
- Wasps may be a problem so set out traps away from the hives use jam or fizzy drink never use syrup or honey. Close entrances to one bee space to enable them to be defended more easily.
- To prevent wax moth destroying supers, clean and scorch the boxes and either freeze then air frames or treat with a 80% acetic acid.
- Check hives are sound and joints are tight for the winter. Think about insulation ahead of needing it.
- Asian hornet traps need to be monitored.