Committees:Bees

Table of contents

1 Main Tasks

Main Tasks

If any hives have died in the winter, clean frames to prepare for reuse. Test hive for American Foulbrood (if the bees died because of this disease, the hive itself must be destroyed). If it is not possible or desirable to create an artificial swarm from an existing hive to fill a dead hive, order new bees.

Check for the development of queen cells in May-July. (Queen cells are a sign that the hive is preparing to swarm--to create a new queen who will leave with half of the bees to find a spot for the new hive, usually in a hollow tree.) Ideally, a hive that is preparing to swarm should be divided up into two hives, to create an artifical swarm to prevent you from losing half of your bees. There are many ways to do this, check out a book on beekeeping to learn more.

Control for varroa mites. We are currently looking for an effective oxalic acid treatment that does not require every frame to be removed and sprayed with an oxalic solution. Any suggestions? Send us an e-mail! (http://www.earlham.edu/webteam/resources/eav/?u=farmers)

Extract honey! Miller Farm owns a four frame extracter that can be found in the basement. A hive should be left with 40-60 pounds of honey (one to two shallow supers or one deep super) for the winter.

Hives should simply be left alone for the winter, preferably with an entrance cleat to prevent mice from entering the hive. There is no need to place insulation on the hives.

Order any materials needed for Spring or Summer Maintenance. Miller Farm typically orders from The Walter Kelly Bee Company (http://www.kellybees.com)

1/29/07 -The bees are dead. They died of Varroa Destructor mites in December. We will order new bees later in the spring. Right now we are in the process of cleaning the frames and collecting the beeswax.

John Snowden (telephone number)