an average joe's guide to coming out of winter...snellgrove board here: • similar to demaree...

Bee Engaged:An Average Joe's Guide to Coming

Out of WinterJoe Komperda -

Master Beekeeper: The “Average Joe”

Beekeeper

101/11/2020 ABF 2020Copyright 2020 0 -- Beeeee-

BF 2020ABAee-Engaged: An Avg Joe's Guide...

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Disclaimer

The viewpoints in this presentation are based on one beekeeping couple’s experience in several years of Beekeeping in the Colorado Front Range area…

As with most beekeeping activities, ask 3 beekeepers and you’ll get 5 different answers.

01/11/2020 ABF 2020Copyright 2020 - Bee-Engaged: An Avg Joe's Guide...

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There is no guarantee that what is presented here will work for everyone in all situations –knowledge, education, experience, common sense and a little luck all factor into the success (or failure) of our beekeeping endeavors.

Remember: Beekeeping is Local!

Disclaimer (Cont.)


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Contradictory Signs of Life:<< Dead Bees

LIFE !!!01/11/2020 ABF 2020

Copyright 2020 - Bee-Engaged: An Avg Joe's Guide...

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Let’s Look for Signs of Life:Too Cold for

Cleansing Flights


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Degrees F Degrees C Activity/Action100 38 all brood rearing stops

91 - 97 32.8 - 36 wax secretion93 - 94 33.9 - 34.4 nest temperature (eggs & young bees)

70 - 85 21.1 - 29.4 broodless winter cluster

68 20 queen does not fly

61 16 drones do not fly57 14 cluster forms

50 10 brood rearing stops / workers do not fly *

43 - 46 6 - 8 most bees join the cluster42 5.6 bees cannot move - muscles are not hot enough40 4.4 bees die (on their own)

-40 -40 bee cluster dies below this temperature

Temperature based Activities *

*

4240

-40* NOTE:

4.4 bees die (on their own)

-40 bee cluster dies below this temperature“Bees don’t always read the books!”


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Telltale Signs of Life:

Successful Cleansing! >01/11/2020 ABF 2020


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Other Clues:• Flight• Stethoscope/Tapping• Debris/Wax cappings• FLIR Imaging


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Quick Tip:• Have a screened bottom board?

• Take a photo with a Smartphone:

or an Inspection Camera


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You made it through Winter!What’s Next?

• Pollen! • Silver Maple Feb 9 or 10 –CO Front Range

• Beekeeping is Local –Know your Area –Talk with other Beeks!


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Bee Biology: Pollen/Bee Bread fuels the Buildup!

But you also need Honey/Nectar…01/11/2020 ABF 2020


Feeding

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Since Pollen & Nectar aren’t always in sync…01/11/2020 ABF 2020


Reasons to Feed– Starvation is still possible

• Nectar Sources may not be available yet…

– Fast Spring “Build-up”

13This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND


Feeding:– Types of Feeding:

• Liquid (Sugar Syrup)• Solids

– Pollen/Substitute– Sugar (Fondant/Granulated)


Liquid Feeding Methods• Baggie

• Boardman, Jar or Pail

• Division Board or Frame Feeder

• Top Feeder


Solid Feeding Methods

• Dry Pollen

• Patties/Bulk

• Fondant/Candy

• Granulated Sugar– “Mountain Camp”


Pollen Patties – Winter & Spring• For late winter / early spring feeding (as

the Queen is beginning to lay for the Spring Buildup):

• ~70% sugar• ~30% pollen substitute / supplement• Enough water to make a sticky paste so

it doesn’t fall out of a Ziploc bag

• i.e.– ~3.5 lbs sugar– ~1.5 lbs pollen sub– ~About 7 - 8 oz. warm water (add HBH,

ProHealth, AP-23 or other additives if desired)

• Mix and place into a one-gallon Ziploc bag with 2 wood “shims” (~3/4" x ~3/4" x 3” to 4") – Cutout a “window” & place on open window top of frames [see photo]

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NOTE: For late fall and winter feeding when the Queen is not laying (Nov to Feb based on location): Decrease pollen substitute to 10%, increase sugar to 90% and use about the same amount of water


Based on a recommendation from Dr. Dale Hill, U of MT Master Beekeeping Course

Pros Cons • Fast Buildup

– More bees • Warmth for Spring

Cold Spells

• Assists with Splits

• Peace of Mind18

• Too Much Brood too Early– Promotes Chill Brood

• Moisture Concerns

• Can “Promote” Swarming

Feeding


Avoid Swarming by

adding “Space”

• A Honey Super above a Queen Excluder does not add ‘Space’

• You need to add Space for the Queen to Lay!

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This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA


Swarm “Suppresssion”: Checkerboard

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Note: Front View

NOT THIS!

THIS!


Swarm “Suppression”: Reversal *

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* Don’t Reversein this case:

Note: Front View01/11/2020 ABF 2020


• Splits may curb the “urge” to Swarm• About 20% of Colonies will swarm -

even when suppression techniques are attempted

• Moving the Queen with the split may simulateswarm “conditions” (i.e. less crowding)• If there are Swarm Cells, “After Swarms” may still occur

depending on the Swarm Cell maturity

• Splits are NOT really “artificial” swarms• Physiological changes triggered by swarm preparation do

not occur

Splits forSwarm Suppression


Splits:– Breaks up a Strong, Overwintered Colony

into 2 or more hives• Pros:

– Expands the Apiary» Provides overwintered,

local “stock”– Makes up for Winter “Losses”– Potentially Suppresses Swarming “Instinct”

» “Artificial Swarming”» Potential Nuc Sales

• Cons– Possibly Reduces Honey Production– 1 or more hives may require a Queen

» Queen Purchase = $$$» “Emergency” Queen may not Mate/Return to Hive


• Quantity of Bees– Count frames of Bees

• Brood – are there 6 to 8 Frames?

• Lack of Queen Cells– Queen Cup OK

• Availability of Pollen & Nectar + Drones24

Areas to Assess to Determine Split Potential:


Divides or Increases

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Splits can be referred to as:

Splits may be called:• Walk Away Split• Side by Side Split• Facing Each Other Split • Even Split• Swarm Control Split• Cut Down Split• Progressive Split• Location Split• Take Away Split

“Specialized” / Advanced Split Methods:

• Demaree• Snelgrove• Cloake• Taranov• Doolittle


Walk Away Split

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Side By Side &

Even Split

6 – 8 frames of

Brood

3 - 4 frames of

Brood3 – 4

frames of Brood

Note: Top View

Dotted line is where original hive sat


Take Away Split(Location Change)

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2 – 3 Miles

Note: Top View

2 miles ?2 feet ?

Fact or Myth…01/11/2020 ABF 2020


Taranov

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4 Inch Gap

Fabric/Sheet*

Shake out your Bees!

*Consider Plastic Tablecloth 01/11/2020 ABF 2020


Demaree

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Q. Excluder

Note: Front View

Super


Snelgrove

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Note: Front View

SnellgroveBoard here:

• Similar to Demaree• Uses Double Screen

Board• 6 – 8 entrances

• Top & Bottom

• “Complex” method of opening & closing entrances

• Funnels foragers to different parts of the hive

• Can be Time Sensitive


Queening Your Split• Purchased Queens >>

– Early Season Availability– Too Cold to Ship– “Foreign”– $35 - $50 each

• Brood Frame Movement– Queen Creation: 2 - 4

Young Larvae for >> “Emergency” Queens

• Movement of frame(s) with Swarm Cells

• “Transplanting” Natural Queen Cells– Requires a “light touch” – FMI see Dr. Wyatt A. Magnum

Article, ABJ Vol 159, No. 11, Nov 2019 pgs 1225 – 1230.3101/11/2020 ABF 2020


Old Beekeeper’s Adage:• A swarm in May is worth a bale of Hay• A swarm in June is worth a Silver Spoon• A swarm in July isn’t worth a Fly! *


Despite your actions --They’ve Swarmed!

• A natural means of reproduction of honey bee colonies• Original colony divides into two or

sometimes more colonies • “Splits” are a controlled “swarm-like” activity

• Settles anywhere from 100 feet to a ¼ mile or more from the original nest• Stay for a few hours to a few days• Departs for a new nest location after getting

information from scout beesGenerally occurs Spring thru early Summer

Swarm

(Wikipedia)01/11/2020 ABF 2020


• Size• 2–5 lbs. (or more) – 7,000 – 17,500 (or more)

Bees

• Usually “Docile” & Calm• Carry about 3 days worth of Honey in the Honey

“crop” or Stomach• No Hive to protect

• Vulnerable to elements• “Scary” to the neighbors• Some areas prone to Swarm “Landings”

Swarm Characteristics


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Swarm Rescue:

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Swarm Recovery Techniques

“Bouncing”“Sweeping”“Bucket Scoop”Vacuuming“Box Lure”


Swarm “Kit” Checklist:Items you might want to have --

Bee Suit/JacketGlovesBoot BandsBoxBrushDustpanDrop ClothSpray BottleScreenScreen EnclosureHoney

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ToolboxHive ToolHand ShearLoppersBucketPoleRopeWeightTape, DuctTape, MaskingExtension CordBrochuresWater

SmokerSmoker FuelSmoker LighterBee VacBee Vac HoseBee Vac TubesBee Vac NozzleGeneratorFuelBattery PackLadderBusiness Cards


Swarms - Things to Remember:


Swarms Scare the Neighbors & General PublicPerform Timely Rescue of SwarmsBee Prepared: Have the proper equipment, have a plan & have a place for the Rescued Bees

You are providing a service to the CommunityBe an “AmBEEssador”

Kindness & Courtesy Ask Permission to cut bushes/branchesProvide “Thanks”

Use this as an Educational OpportunityPromote “Saving the Bees” & the Beekeeping Hobby

Swarm Rescue = Free-Bees!


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Final Word on Swarms:

You should only undertake swarm rescues for which you are trained,

competent, medically fit and sufficiently rested & alert to carry out.

Furthermore, you should not be under the influence of alcohol, legal or illegal

substances or anything else that could impair your judgement while rescuing

swarms.

Mites

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Early Season Monitoring & Control


Mite Monitoring

– Visual Inspection

• NOT Recommended

• Can you “see” a phoretic mite?– Many Beeks can’t find/see their Queen!

• If you see mites –– Quick Action is Required!


Mite Monitoring– Consider a “Sticky” Board

• Don’t have to Open Hive• Not as accurate as Washes or Rolls

–(Powder) Sugar Roll• Temperature “dependent”

–Alcohol Wash• Temperature “dependent”• Must find/segregate your Queen

–All sampled bees WILL die4101/11/2020 ABF 2020


Proven Treatments:


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https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/HBHC-Guide_Varroa_Interactive_7thEdition_June2018.pdf

Excellent Resources including information on:• Forage & Nutrition• Hive Management• Varroa Management:


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You did what you could…-- Yet this could still happen…

• Too few bees


Help a Friend Perform a Split or Rescue a Swarm -- YOU CAN DO IT!

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References


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Bee Calm&

Buzz On!


an average joe's guide to coming out of winter...snellgrove board here: • similar to demaree...

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