Summer management considerations for beekeepers.

1. Summer
Management
Presented by Rick Bledsoe

2. The dearth of nectar

3. Changes that occur this time of year:
– bees won't draw new comb if no nectar
available
– queen may slow down or stop laying
– swarming less likely, but can occur
– bees can be more defensive (mean) when no
honey flow
– robbing more likely

5. Signs of robbing:
-- bees fighting
-- bees trying to get in
everywhere
-- bees heavier leaving
-- bees on outside of
closed up hive in
morning

6. Signs of robbing:
-- comb with rough
surface
-- wax cappings on
floor/entrance of
hive

7. Workers reuse wax—robbers tear off cappings and let them drop

9. To help prevent robbing:
– strong hives (requeen, give capped brood, or
combine weak hives with strong ones)
– entrance reducers/robber screens
– stay out of hives as much as possible
– no open feeding
– beware of spilling syrup and leaky feeders

11. Robbing Screen

14. Entrance Reducers

15. Bearding

16. Evaluate your queens. Requeen
if poor layer.
Some also routinely requeen if
queen is 2 years old.

17. Poor
laying
pattern
Good brood
pattern

18. Provide water for bees if no source
within a half-mile.

19. August is a good
time to check and
treat for varroa.

20. Understanding Mite Count:
Sugar Shake Method
Post honey flow before final fall brood rearing – Aug/Sept
Treat when levels are 10-12 mites/sample

21. Understanding Mite Count:
Sticky Board Method
Place sticky board under SBB for 3 days.
Divide total number of mites by 3 to calculate 24
hour average.
Spring: 5-10 mites Fall: 50-60 mites

23. Wax moths
attack stored
frames and weak
hives