Monitor varroa levels by putting the board in for a few days. More than 2 a day means it would be a good idea to treat. In cold weather the bees cluster, two weeks of low temperatures allow for oxalic treatment if the colony is broodless- only use an approved treatment and record its use. If … Continue reading →
Remove supers and extract – leave a super with space if you will have Himalayan Balsam coming in Put a super under the clearer board to give space for the bees to go into Mark the supers so you can put them back on the same hive above the crown board for the same hive for … Continue reading →
This is usually the main month for the honey crop Lime and clover are in flower and the blackberry is out in a lot of places Don’t add more supers unless needed as the brood nest will begin to contract Move outer frames not filled or capped in towards the centre so that the bees don’t … Continue reading →
Continue weekly checks and perform swarm control if necessary if you see charged cells Extract Spring honey, return supers to the colony they came from Be aware if there is a ‘June gap ‘ in forage or the weather deteriorates – feed if necessary but not with supers on A monthly health check is a good … Continue reading →
Looking at parthenogenesis in Cape honeybees https://phys.org/news/2020-05-gene-honey-bees-virgin-birth.html
Continue reading →Continue weekly inspections checking for eggs and queen cups and cells. Empty cups may be okay watch when they are polished and act if they have an egg or are charged with royal jelly. Remember the appearance of drones indicates swarm time watch the egg laying. If it decreases the bees could be readying your queen … Continue reading →