CALENDAR FOR BEEKEEPING IN CENTRAL

NORTH CAROLINANOW WHAT DO I DO??

Nancy Ruppert, Apiary InspectorNCDA & CS

OUTLINE

• WHY A CALENDAR MIGHT BE USEFUL

• CAVEATS

• WHAT’S ON THE MENU (CALENDAR)?

• Q & A

WHY A CALENDAR MIGHT BE USEFUL

• HELPS ORGANIZE BEEKEEPING ACTIVITY• EASIER TO PLAN AHEAD (IF YOU LOOK AT IT)• REVIEW OF WHAT BEES NEED AND WHEN THEY NEED IT• CAN HELP SAVE SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES

CAVEATS

• Bees have their own schedules, and they stick to it• This schedule often differs from ours• Climate/temperatures can alter the schedule• Some beekeeping calendars begin in August• Commercial beekeeping operations may have different needs/schedules

WHAT’S ON THE MENU?

JANUARY

• “Bees are ‘hibernating’---can’t we just leave them alone?!?”

JANUARY MANAGEMENT

• FOOD STORES: IS THE PANTRY FULL ENOUGH?• Usually not much pollen available in December/early January many hives need supplement (WHY?)• Honey stores may be low (< one full super), so feeding may be essential for survival!

LET’S REVIEW NUTRITION

• Fat Bees, Skinny Bees by Doug Somerville• “Honey Bee Nutrition” by Dr. Zachary Huang (Bee Culture article, September 2010)• Carbohydrates (honey, nectar, sugar, corn syrup): ENERGY SOURCE, without which bees are D-E-D

LET’S REVIEW NUTRITION (cont.)

• Pollen---protein source, required for: 1. Raising healthy brood 2. Developing healthy immune systems 3. Royal jelly/food production 4. Developing healthy flight muscles 5. Fat stores for winter bees 6. Pheromone production 7. Wax production

LET’S REVIEW NUTRITION (cont.)

• YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT!!!

OTHER JANUARY TASKS

• Repair/replace stored equipment (FYI: duct tape may not be the best option)• Order nucs/packages (maybe queens) Demand still outweighs supply• Combine hives if needed (queen failure; hive weak for other reasons unless diseased)• Consider insulating small hives

OTHER JANUARY TASKS (cont.)

• Bees may need help removing corpses from hive entrance• Move hives that will need relocating this year (hives are typically lighter and less active)• KEEP LEARNING

FEBRUARY TASKS

• Brood build-up intensifying keep the pantry well-stocked (especially carbs) Healthy hives: feed thinner syrup• Replace a few (<4) frames if comb old or damaged• In late February, consider adding super or hive body with wax foundation to increase supply of drawn comb (Carbs required for this)

FEBRUARY TASKS (cont.)

• Consider need to treat for Nosema disease (intestinal disease, worse when bees can’t fly to take cleansing flights)• Contact local cooperative extension office if you want your name on “swarm-catcher” list• Make plans to attend annual NCSBA Spring Meeting• Continue preparing equipment, moving hives if needed, keep learning

MARCH TASKS

• Attend NCSBA Spring Meeting---usually first weekend in March (Great learning opportunity!)

• Reverse bottom two or three boxes on hive Many hives have moved above bottom box; healthy queen needs more room to lay eggs• Swarming under way implement prevention/ capture measures

SWARM PREVENTION

• Reversing boxes• Adding super/hive body• Making splits• “Checkerboarding”• Remove mother queen (short- or long-term)• Remove queen cells (not effective unless done often and thoroughly)

MARCH TASKS (cont.)

• Feed carbs if needed (thin syrup)• Assess for pest/disease issues (especially varroa mites, American foulbrood, European foulbrood), and treat if needed (Treatments need to be completed by early April to prevent contamination of honey)• Continue to replace old/undesirable comb• Look closely at brood pattern; order new queen if needed

MARCH TASKS (cont.)

• Late in March, add at least one super• Remove entrance reducers (Bees are BUSY)• Equalize hives---transfer bees/brood from strong hives to weak hives (Caution: make sure you’re not also trans- ferring disease; know why weak hives are weak so you’re not “throwing good money after bad”)

APRIL TASKS

• Nectar flow usually peaks during this month:• Remove feeders from all but weak/new hives• Be ready to add super every 7-10 days• Make sure that all meds are out of hives, unless required for bee survival• Be ready to install nucs/packages that you’ve ordered; feed upon installation

APRIL TASKS (cont.)

• Bees should be very busy: closely examine hives that are not; trim weeds from entrance• Swarm season peaking continue prevention and capture measures• Look closely at brood pattern; replace queen if needed• Consider adding queen excluder (?!!?)

MAY TASKS

• Nectar flow continues continue adding supers; get extraction/bottling equipment ready

• Swarming continues continue prevention/ capture measures• Replace failing queens• Install traps for small hive beetle if needed (i.e., >20 adult beetles seen in hive)

MAY TASKS (cont.)

• Plant annuals for future nectar/pollen sources• Set up “watering holes” for your bees, if not already present

JUNE TASKS

• Main nectar flow dwindling not as many supers needed• If sourwood in your area, consider harvesting all desired honey before mid-June, to ensure more “pure” sourwood honey crop• If honey being harvested, put “wet” supers back on hives late in day to limit robbing

JUNE TASKS (cont.)

• Late-season splits may be started; FEED• Continue measures to control hive beetles• Keep water constantly available• Make plans to attend NCSBA annual Summer Meeting in mid-July

JULY TASKS

• BEE READY TO SWEAT!!

If your bees are healthy enough, take a break

JULY TASKS

• Small hive beetle population peaking---crush and/or trap early and often: there are not enough control options to save a hive if you get behind on this task!!• May harvest some (or all) of honey; continue late-season splits; keep water available• Attend NCSBA annual Summer Meeting

JULY TASKS (cont.)

• Get empty supers on if hives near cotton fields• Replace failing queens, and consider replacing all queens that are two years old or older• Can begin thorough assessment for varroa mites, and treat if needed/practical

AUGUST TASKS

AUGUST TASKS (cont.)

• Can still make late-season splits in early August if mated queen available• Pest control is critical this month: hive beetle populations are peaking, as are varroa; risk is HIGH for damage from wax moth larvae• Replace all failing queens: August is usually your last chance to do this before spring

AUGUST TASKS (cont.)

• Unless your hives are near cotton fields, harvest desirable honey, to keep bees from eating it• Keep water constantly available for bees• Be prepared for “bad bee behavior”---very little nectar available; often HOT weather; robbing starts to peak

SEPTEMBER TASKS

• Continue pest control measures; varroa control measures should be completed by end of September• If hives are exposed to but not sickened by American foulbrood, apply preventive treatment (terramycin)• Consider Nosema assessment/treatment

SEPTEMBER TASKS (cont.)

• May feed thin syrup in early Sept. to stimulate egg-laying; during last week of Sept., change over to thicker (2:1) syrup to enhance food stores, especially if no heavy fall nectar flow• Should have brood in bottom box; if not, may need to rearrange things• Combine hives late in month if weak (and not diseased) and/or have failing queens

OCTOBER TASKS

• Post-treatment varroa assessment---i.e., did your treatment work?• Combine hives if needed • Remove all queen excluders, if present• Drones being expelled in most hives• Feed thick syrup, if needed• Apply entrance reducers near end of month

OCTOBER TASKS (cont.)

• Limit hive inspections---bees are using more propolis to seal cracks, and waste lots of time and energy if they have to keep replacing it• Plant (in October and November) herbaceous perennials for future nectar/pollen sources

NOVEMBER TASKS

• Combine hives if needed• Continue feeding thick syrup if needed• Ensure adequate ventilation near top of hive• Provide weights (brick, rock, concrete block) to prevent hive toplessness• Plant trees for future nectar/pollen sources (maple, tulip poplar, sourwood, etc.)

NOVEMBER TASKS (cont.)

• Consider closing off screened bottom boards to help retain heat in hive• Bee caught up before Thanksgiving, so you can enjoy/relax

DECEMBER TASKS

• Combine hives if needed• Feed thick syrup if needed (i.e., not more than one super full of honey stored up)• Consider insulating small (< 4 frames full of bees) hives if no other hives available to combine• Sell honey to Christmas shoppers• Year-end review/assessment of apiary successes and challenges• Leave bees alone, if possible (TAKE A BREAK!)

QUESTIONS?