WEATHER CONDITIONS

• at least 60 °F, little wind

GENERAL MANAGEMENT

• Thoroughly inspect colonies with below average foraging activity or with few pollen foragers. Combine disease-free, weak colonies with stronger ones, or requeen if necessary. Abate AFB colonies.
• Estimate colony strength:
  • Combine disease-free, weak colonies with stronger ones.
  • Note Bene! Exchange or combine equipment from different hives ONLY after establishing that they are free of disease (see IPM section).
• Swarm control:
  • Reverse brood chambers if needed. You will need to do this if the upper hive body is filled with bees and brood and the bottom hive bottom is relatively empty.
  • Cut swarm cells.
  • Clip queen to allow for identification and to reduce swarming. Clipping a queen will not stop swarming, but it may delay it a few days, giving you time to initiate other swarm prevention measures.
  • Pull nucs or make splits from strong colonies.
  • Super as needed. This is another critical element of swarm control. If you need to make a nuc or a split, you also need to add supers. If the bees are not working the supers, check to see if the colony is honey bound. Raise honey bound combs and other full combs of honey out of the brood nest and into a honey super. Never raise eggs or young larvae above the excluder as the bees may rear a queen.
  • Protocol for the use of foundation.
  • Signs that you need to super include:
    • Bees and brood filling both brood chambers
    • White wax being deposited on top bars
    • Swarm cells present
    • Bees hanging out on front of hive
    • Anytime that your supers are filled with honey, you should check your brood nest to make sure that it has not become honey bound. Raise honey bound combs and other full combs of honey out of the brood nest and into a honey super. Never raise eggs or young larvae above the excluder as the bees may rear a queen.

IPM for HONEY BEE PESTS, PARASITES, PATHOGENS and PREDATORS

PESTS: Wax Moths and Small Hive Beetles

• Wax moths are not a problem during cold weather unless you keep your combs in a heated building. Properly stored and protected from re-infestation, combs that have been frozen (< 32 °F or < 0 °C) for at least one day during the winter will not be infested with any stage of the wax moth.
• In general, keep all of your unused combs in mothproof stacks or in a mothproof room or building, preferably unheated. Tape cracks between supers or repair supers so they fit tightly together. Inspect regularly! Treat with Para-moth® or Fumigator® at first sign of wax moth.
• The best solution for wax moths is to keep as many supers of combs as possible on your colonies. Strong colonies provide the best protection for your combs.

PARASITES: Parasitic Mites and Nosema

• Exchange drone comb traps.
• Freeze drone combs you removed.

PATHOGENS: AFB and Other Diseases

• Check entrances for foraging activity. Thoroughly inspect colonies with below average activity or with few pollen foragers. Combine disease-free, weak colonies with stronger ones, or requeen if necessary. Abate AFB colonies.
• If you are unsure about a diagnosis, send a sample to the Bee Research Laboratory for analysis.

PREDATORS: Bears and Skunks

• Maintain bear fences. Check voltage and trim grass.
• Check for skunk damage and install skunk guards if needed.