summer management #7 presented by the ohio state beekeeper’s association

Summer Management

#7

PresentedBy

The Ohio State Beekeeper’s Association

Summer ManagementMany commercial beekeepers are

working hard to get their bees ready for pollination

Summer Management

Topics to be discussed include:

•Diseases •Making splits•Keeping a watchful eye for problems—Robbing/floods

The material presented in this slide set is quite long and should be divided into two sessions.

Diseases

• Based upon date provided by the Ohio Department of Agriculture -- 2005

Brood diseases in Ohio

• 2005 Apiary Statistics

• From ODA• Colonies

Inspected 21,389• American Foulbrood 388

Colonies: • European Foulbrood 31

Colonies:• Chalk brood 396

Colonies

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

AFB EFB CB

AFB

EFB

CB

Summer Management

Brood Disease

American foulbrood

Summer ManagementDiseases/Pest

Good healthy broodAmerican foulbrood

2005 Apiary StatisticsFrom ODAColonies Inspected 21,389 Number with AFB

388

That doesn’t seem like many but this is a serious disease spread very easily and at some time or other beekeepers will experience it.

American foulbrood

Summer ManagementDiseases/PestAmerican foulbrood

Young larva ingest the bacterial spores when fed by nurse bees. The

spores then germinate and begin to grow rapidly. Death to the

larva usually occurs as the pupae stage is reached. Larva that die turn a coffee brown and begin to melt down into a gooey mass. Housecleaning bees then try to

remove the dead larva and in the process become contaminated

with the bacterial spores that are now dormant. The house bees then carry the spores to other bees, and the spores end up

either in the honey stores or are fed again to new larva. Thus the

disease is spread within the colony rather rapidly.

Summer ManagementDiseases/PestAmerican foulbrood

Robbing is one of the ways that American foulbrood is

spread. Robbing bees will take back contaminated honey to their own hives which will result in larva being fed with

spore laced honey. The disease will spread to many colonies within several miles

from the infected hive.You should always check for

American foulbrood when examining your hives. If you are able catch this disease

early, further spread can be prevented.

Summer Management

Diseases/PestAmerican foulbrood

The way to test for this disease is to place a thin stick, twig, straw into a cell with this coffee brown gluey substance. Stir and draw the thin stick out. If the gluey substance sticks and ropes, it is most likely AFB.

You can also take a sample of comb from this frame and have your bee inspector send it in for confirmation of AFB.

Summer Management


Treatment:

If diagnosed as AFB, the colony and bees can be treated in Ohio with Terramycin or Tylan. This must be used and consumed by the bees at least 4 weeks prior to a honey crop. These only mask the disease. The spores are not killed and can re-infect the hive

The only sure way to get rid of it…

Summer Management


Treatment:

Burn ………

Summer Management

Brood Disease

European foulbrood

Summer ManagementDiseases/Pest

Good healthy brood

European foulbrood

2005 Apiary StatisticsFrom ODAColonies Inspected 21,389 Number with AFB 13

European foulbrood

Summer ManagementBrood DiseaseEuropean foulbrood

CauseEuropean foulbrood (EFB) is a brood disease of

honeybees caused by the bacterium Melissococcus pluton.. Larvae are most

susceptible to infection when they are less than 48 hours old, and usually die while still in the coiled state. Poor nutrition and severe stress, for example insecticide poisoning, often cause this disease to break out. The larvae first turn

yellow then brown in color. The disease is usually noticed in early spring, and to a lesser

extent in autumn.

Summer ManagementBrood DiseaseEuropean foulbrood

Multiplication and spreadThe bacteria multiply vigorously in the gut of larval

bees which have been given food contaminated with M. pluton.. As with

American foulbrood, EFB can also be spread by:

bees robbing infected hives transferring infected honey supers and combs to

clean hives using contaminated beekeeping equipment

feeding infected honey and pollen.

Summer ManagementBrood Disease

European foulbrood

Treatment: Good beekeeping hygiene will keep this disease in control, however, if a hive should be found with EFB it is important to prevent any robbing of the hive and frames from this hive should not be transferred to any other hive. Treatment with terramycin – A colony recovers rapidly. The effect of EFB is to reduce a colonies bee population and thus reduce a honey crop. Also consider requeening if the bees are not cleaning up the disease.

Summer Management

Brood Disease

Chalkbrood


Good healthy brood

Chalkbrood

2005 Apiary StatisticsFrom ODAColonies Inspected 21,389 Number with Chalkbrood 596

Chalkbrood


Chalkbrood

Identification: A fungal disease caused by Ascosphaera apis . It is now found throughout the United States. It is a disease of stress in the early spring to early summer. Severe cases can be found in the comb later in the year. Often the bees will try to remove the mummy larva -- it is called chalk brood because the mummies are chalk like in appearance and touch. These mummies can often be seen at the entrance of the hive.


ChalkbroodTreatment: There is no chemical approved

treatment for this disease. The best management plan would be to: strengthen a weak hive with more brood and bees, replace the queen (literature indicates that it might be genetic characteristic) with a queen of known hygienic behavior. To avoid spreading chalkbrood, you can avoid using pollen from a chalkbrood hive for supplemental feeding and avoid mixing frames of comb from a chalkbrood hive with other hives you may have.

Insect pest in hives

• 2005 Apiary Statistics• From ODA• Colonies Inspected

21,389• Varroa Mite 6,720 colonies

• Tracheal Mite 41 colonies

• Small Hive Beetle 539 colonies

• Wax moth n/a0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

Varroa Trach. SHB WaxMoth

Varroa

Trach.

SHB

Wax moth


Varroa Mites2005 Apiary StatisticsFrom ODAColonies Inspected

21,389

Varroa Mite 6,720 coloniesThe greatest threat to all beekeepers

in Ohio. It has been responsible for more beekeepers leaving the hobby than anything else. This is the honey bees # 1 enemy.


Varroa MitesIdentification: This mite is

known as varroa destructor. Varroa mites can be found in the United States except Hawaii. The mite is small but can be seen with the naked eye. Mites are about the size of a pin head and are reddish/brown in color.


Varroa MitesThey can be detected by several methods. • One is with varroa screens and a sticky board. Mites

fall through the screen onto the sticky board where then can then be detected and counted to determine the infestation level.

• The second method involves checking drone brood for mites.

• The third method involves scooping up 100 or so bees and subjecting them to a sugar roll or ether roll test. The sugar roll test does not kill the bees and is preferred. The method is simple. Scoop up the bees into a pint jar, add powdered sugar (a tablespoon will do) and shake and roll the jar.

• Varroa mites will drop off the bees to the bottom of the jar where they can be counted.


Varroa MitesThey can be detected by several

methods. • Most common is the sticky

board test. A protective screen is placed over the sticky board and the sticky board is left in the hive for a period of 24 hours. The mites on the sticky board are then counted. A sticky board can be made easily by taking a sheet of wax paper and coating it with vegetable oil. Lay it on the bottom board and place screen over it. This will also detect chalk brood.


Varroa MitesThey can be detected by

several methods. • Second method

involves checking drone brood for mites like shown in the picture. You can check individual capped drone cells -- use your hive tool or a cappings fork to remove pupa from the drone comb.


Varroa MitesThey can be detected by several

methods. • Third method involves

scooping up 100 or so bees and subjecting them to a sugar roll or ether roll test. The sugar roll test does not kill the bees and is preferred. The method is simple. Scoop up the bees into a pint jar, add powdered sugar (a tablespoon will do) and shake and roll the jar. Varroa mites will drop off the bees to the bottom of the jar where they can be counted.


Varroa MitesThey can be detected by

several methods. • Remember that more

than 85% of the mites in a colony are in capped brood cells and not visually detectable. If a bee inspector see one mite, he or she will indicate on inspection report that all hives in your bee yard are infected.


Varroa MitesTreatment:I can not tell you

exactly what will work. A number of products are available for the beekeeper. Some work at times and at other times have no apparent effect.


Varroa Mites

Treatment:In general use:Apistan strips (10%

fluvalinate)CheckMite+ (Coumaphos)Formic AcidSucrocideApiguard (Thymol)Powdered sugar

Don’t ask me which is best!


Tracheal Mites2005 Apiary StatisticsFrom ODAColonies Inspected

21,389

Tracheal Mite 41 colonies

Still a problem. Introduced in the mid 1880’s. A real problem in the early 1990’s in Ohio.


Tracheal MitesIdentification: This mite is

named Acarapis woodi . It was first identified as the Isle of Wight Disease. This mite has become well established in the United States except Hawaii. These mites can be observed under a microscope. They are found in the tracheae of adult honey bees.

Insect pest in hivesTracheal Mites Highly infested hives usually die in

the fall or winter. One may find few bees in a dead hive. This is contrary to starvation when most of the bees will be on the face of the comb -- dead. Early detection is important. If the beekeeper notices a rapid decline in population, the situation is already out of hand.

Fortunately, breeding better queen bees with resistance to the tracheal mite has reduced the tracheal mite problem from what it was 10 years ago.


Small Hive Beetles2005 Apiary

StatisticsFrom ODAColonies Inspected

21,389

Small Hive Beetles 539 colonies

Insect pest in hivesSmall Hive BeetlesIdentification: The SHB is found primarily in

the Southern states of the United States is now found in many other states especially states that import bees for pollination. It is called: Aethina tumida .

The small beetle is black and can be found moving rapidly inside the hive when exposed to sun light.

The Larvae may be mistaken for wax moth larva but they do not spin cocoons as the wax moth larva and leave a slime trail within the hive. They can make a complete mess of a hive which can result in the loss of comb in the frames and loss of honey crop. This beetle seems to prefer weak hives especially queen less hives to do its damage.

Insect pest in hivesSmall Hive BeetlesTreatment: Several treatments are

available to the beekeeper for SHB.

First, a ground drench - SHB larva crawl from the entrance of a hive and pupate in the ground around the hive stand. The product is called: GardStar®. Always read label directions for the use of the product.

Second, CheckMite+ - TM a strip which controls both SHB and Varroa mites.

Third , various trap designs. This is the trap designed by Mike Hood.


Wax Moths2005 Apiary

StatisticsFrom ODAColonies Inspected

21,389

Not reported in data collected by ODA.

Insect pest in hivesWax MothsIdentification: There are two

general types found in the United States: Galleria mellonella L. the Greater Wax Moth and Achroia grisella F. the Lesser Wax Moth.

Both do considerable damage to bee hives that are in weak condition and to stored comb in supers. It is the Wax worms are a serious problem in warm weather and dark conditions. They can do a lot of damage in a very short period of time.

Insect pest in hivesWax Moths Treatment: Wax moths attack weak

hives. Strong hives will kept them under control.

Wax moths do not like light. Exposing equipment to light, closing up equipment tightly and fumigating with "Para-moth" (Para-Dichlorobenzene crystals) a product available from most bee suppliers, and using biological control such as Bacillus thuringiensis.

See Ann Harman’s article in February 2007 Bee Culture Magazine. A good investment in beekeeping is to subscribe to the bee magazines.

Other Minor DiseasesNosema A protozoan disease caused by Nosema apis. Although

most beekeepers do not consider this a major disease, I am going to list it as such. It is very damaging to colonies of bees that over winter in the north. It kills more hives of bees than it is given credit for. You can not see this disease because it is caused by spores which germinate in the midgut of the honey bee. Symptoms include: shortened life span, fecal deposits on the inside of the hive and often on the outside of the hive. One way to check for nosema is to pull the digestive tract out of a honey bee. Healthy digestive tracts are tan in color. If it is white, the bee is usually infected with nosema. Treatment : The antibiotic Fumagillin sold as Fumidil-B mixed with sugar syrup and fed to the bees in the fall and spring. Literature suggest 1 gal. of syrup per hive. 0.5 grams are mixed with 6 gallons of syrup to feed 6 hives. This is an adult bee disease.

Other Minor DiseasesSacbrood Identification: It is a viral infection of the larva and is

named after the sac-like appearance of dead larvae. The skin of the larva is tough and rubbery and if pulled from the cell with a pair of tweezers, will look like a thin sac covering the dead larva. It is not a common bee disease. Treatment : There is no treatment for viral diseases. Just use good sanitary beekeeping practices while working with bees and if you find a colony with this disease, do not mix other hive frames etc. with this colony. Replacing the queen with a queen from less susceptible stock may help.

Other Minor DiseasesParalysis Identification: It is a viral infection of the adult

bee. Often the beekeeper will notice that the bees are hairless or very glossy as in old age. One might notice a number of bees crawling on the ground around the hive entrance, or trembling on the landing board unable to fly. I should point out that the trembling could be a symptom of pesticide poisoning as well. In some cases the bees just disappear or dwindle away. Treatment: No treatment for a viral disease. Requeening with good stock may help.

Making splits

Session Two

Summer Management

Making splits

Early season splits

Summer Management

Making splits

Is this hive ready to split into two

hives? Or should we wait for it to

build up even more.

Summer Management

Making splitsThis is one hive with

the top deep hive body next to the bottom

brood box.

We can certainly make two hives from

this one.

Summer Management

Making splitsWhat is needed?

A New queen to be introduced to the queen-

less hive

The equipment needed…

Bottom board, top cover, inner cover.

Summer Management

Making splitsA new location for the new hive

is selected.

I like to move the queen with at least 4 or 5 frames of brood to the new location. Older bees will return to the original hive

location. I fill the deep box with additional frames and one

division board feeder. I fill this with sugar syrup. I put an

entrance reducer on this hive as well.

Summer Management

Making splitsThe hive in the original position is given a new

queen and also fed. Both hives should be about

equal strength at this time.

I keep them as single hives until the bees move into the outside frames and support brood raising in them. At

that time add a second deep brood chamber. This

is what your new hive should look like in 8 weeks.

Summer Management

Making splitsLate Season

Splits

I highly recommend a small inexpensive

book titled,

“Increase Essentials” by Larry Connor.

Summer Management

Making splitsLate Season Splits

One management technique is to raise a number of your own

queens in nuc’s boxes. This might be

something more for the experienced

beekeeper.

Summer Management


A nuc box is a small hive. It may hold 3 to five frames. It may be used to mate virgin queens. This is something

you might want to do with your swarm cells.

Note the small hives among the producing hives in the background of this picture.

This is a picture of Roger Miller who keeps about 30

hives.

Summer Management


Some people have a lot of nuc’s. The bees in these nuc’s can be combined into full hives as they build strength. Or they can be used to raise queens.

Later in the season they can be combined into full hives to

survive the winter. Remember to feed your bees so they

develop faster than if left on their own to gather nectar &

pollen.

This is a picture of Joe Latshaw with some of his nuc’s. Joe

specializes in raising queens.

Summer Management

Making splitsLate Season SplitsWhat you need are nuc

boxes, frames of live bees to put into them.

Queens or queen cells.Generally a nuc will need two or three frames of bees with

developing brood, honey, and pollen.

Check your nuc’s often. If they become over crowded, move them into larger deep

boxes.Watch out for robbing by

other bees.

Summer Management

Making splits

Late Season Splits

This is an easy inexpensive way to increase your hive

numbers without buying package bees in the spring

each year.

Summer Management

Keeping a watchful eye for problems—Robbing, floods, etc.

There are many topics to cover in a beekeeping class. These topics are going to be mentioned because as a

beginning beekeeper you may encounter them.

Summer Management

RobbingHoney bees are good at finding

nectar/honey sources. If they find any weak hives, they will arrive in large

numbers to steal the weak hives honey. A new beekeeper will sometimes

assume that the large number of bees indicate that the hive is doing well. Just

the opposite is true. And if you make the mistake of taking

off your honey and putting it somewhere the bees can get at it, you will discover

to your dismay the problem you created.

This is my friend Dave Duncan aboard one of his Ohio honey bees. Notice this

bee has pollen on its legs, it is not a robbing bee.

Summer ManagementPainting hives

I like nice white hives, but they are easy to see. Hive painted

green or gray are harder to see. Some people can not resist the temptation to tip over hives or

even shoot at them. If your hives are located where they can easily be seen, you may be facing four

legged problems.

Wouldn’t you just love to see if the rocking hive rocks!

Summer Management

Low Ground – flood danger

When you are looking for an out yard to put your bees, avoid low

lying ground. Some people letting you use their land will give you an opportunity to place them away from any area that they use. Often this area is flood prone or hard to get to in the spring of the year because the ground is too

soft to drive to the location.

All that’s left after a flood.

Summer ManagementAnd talking about

pest……..Here are a few:

Ants

Yellow Jackets

Mice

Skunks

Ratcoons

Snakes

Summer ManagementFinally … Strong hives get honey

Summer ManagementHoney Plants

during summer Yellow & White Sweet Clover

Basswood

Tulip Poplar

Sourwood

Field crops:

Pumpkins

Pickles

Blueberries

Soybeans

Summer Management

Finis

summer management #7 presented by the ohio state beekeeper’s association

Documents

bees ready

nurse bees

house bees

housecleaning bees

bacterial spores

serious disease

brood disease of honeybees

dead larva