Last Bee Check Up of 2018

Now that cooler temps have finally decided to stick around the bees needed one last check up.  In an attempt to find thriving hives come March when the temperatures begin to warm again I’m doing my best to ensure the girls are set for winter.  Inspection day saw the sun out good and strong with mid-60’s, a perfect time for a quick survey to be sure there is plenty of honey stored and that everyone looks healthy.

In 2017 when I opened the hives on a warm day in February I discovered that there were few bees and those that were there were deceased.  The cause? Varroa Mites.   This year when I opened the hives in early spring the bees were GONE and the culprit was nosema – the strain with no tell tale signs.  Double whammy!  2 years in a row was devastating to me.  So this year they have been treated for both nosema and mites.  I was able to confirm nosema thanks to Dr. Sam.  The resident vet at the science center was able to have an autopsy run on a couple of live bees that were still in one hive and verify why there were no bees.

Here is what I found.  2 supers full of frames like this one above.  Full of honey!  In both hives! That is ample food for both hives to survive winter and not go hungry. Box #1 – check

On check up day the bees could not have been more calm or sweeter.  As I explored the hives, removing one super from each it became evident that the honey was aplenty.  Periodically when a hive is opened and frames are removed the girls have built their comb in an unconventional pattern.  This causes the beekeeper, me, to pop open sealed honey stores.  When the frames go back in it is comparable to putting a puzzle together.  Because of this it is always important to note which frame goes where in the super.  Below you see what I mean by unconventional?  This comb full of honey looks nothing like the one pictured at the top of the page.  The bees in this hive like nooks and crannies in their comb.

In the Bee Movie below you see how the girls are not about to waste a drop of spilled nectar.  Near the end of this short  video you can see where the wax was broken open on some of the comb.  When the adjacent frame is replaced it does patch back up hopefully leaving only a small amount of extra work for my girls.

Bee Movie – Bee Check Up

Seeing how strong, healthy and active my bees seem to be checks box #2.  I did not choose to continue digging deeper into the hive.  This is not the time of year when there would be a large amount of brood although it’s always a sign of a present queen.  As the day progressed the temperatures begin to drop a bit so I closed up the hives without delay.  I made one last check up by pulling out the bottom boards to look for any dead varroa.  The count was low and since I treated with mite strips I’m crossing my fingers that the count inside is low as well.

There will be one last visit to the hives to remove the feeders from the fronts of the hives and place entrance reducers on before frigid temps move in.  The feeders will stay on a couple of more weeks and then I’ll block the front of the hive with the exception of one small opening to keep out mice or any other critter looking for a warm winter home.  I’ll spend winter with my fingers crossed for strong, healthy happy hives next spring.  Until then – remember to do your part to help keep honey bees safe from pesticides.  Plant bee-friendly flowers in your yard and call a professional beekeeper if ever you need bees removed from your residence or yard!