Bee Calendar

January

       In cluster on cold days

       Cleansing flights on warm days

       Inspect for starving hives (70º+  day!!)

       Feed starving hives 50/50 syrup

       Prepare new hives (wood-ware)

  Stop treatments (Terramycin, Apistan, CheckMite)

February

      Early season swarming occurs (warm days)

       Pollen coming in from winter-bloomers

       Keep checking your hives for food stores

       Feed bees in light hives (not heavy)

      Feed 60/40 (water/sugar) for broad build

       Set out swarm traps

March

       Honey flow is coming to full strength

       Major broad build (pollen and nectar)

       Apply non-toxic beetle control (traps)

       Move to screen bottom boards/traps

       Inspect hive for queen condition

       Remove feeders/install supers

April

       The honey flow is ON

       Mid-season swarming occurs

       Keep checking your swarm traps

       Pick up package bees

       Clean and renew beetle controls

May

       Swarming can continue through June

      The honey flow is ON

       Be ready with some type of storage

       Keep the entrance clear of grass and weeds

       Clean and renew beetle controls

June

      Bees are on later-season plants

       Swarming tapers off this month

       Keep adding supers during a good nectar flow

       This is the last month for your swarm traps

      Clean and renew beetle controls

July

      Honey flow is tapering off

       Hive beetle populations expand

       Pick a weekend, its time to extract

       Treat with Apistan or CheckMite (after extracting)

      Clean and renew beetle controls

August

       Bees are fanning and hot

       Take a break (not too long, though)

       Keep water around for the bees

       Clean and renew beetle controls

September

       First cold front kicks off fall bloom

      Bees get active again on fall bloom

   Plan for your fall honey crop

    Start list for needed items (next spring)

October

      Bees on fall bloom (nectar and pollen)

       Check hives for winter stores (one super per hive)

      Combine weak and strong colonies

November

       Late bloomers (Chinese Elm/Loquat) active

     Start closing up the hives

     Clean dead colonies and equipment

December

      In cluster on cold days

      Cleansing flights on warm days

      Order package bees and queens

       Finish up woodenware repairs