Yes, mid-summer, formerly known as spring, has finally arrived! Hopefully, we can sometime return to seasonal norms and get a few nice 70 degree days in before the real heat and humidity make their presence.
Reminder: just a few things to keep in mind during this critical time of the year:
--Manage for swarms. This is the peak swarm season. Look for queen cells, make splits, set up swarm traps, make sure bees have space to expand
--Add supers. There is a lot blooming right now and it will only get better. Bees are bringing in nectar so give them space to put it so the queen has space to lay
--How are queens laying? Evidence of a variety of brood? Good laying pattern?
--Check for mites. The deadline for the Bee Informed Mite Check is this Sunday. If you haven't checked, try to do so this month. Staying on top of the mite load is critical for long term survival. If you have a count over 2 per hundred at this stage, consider a knock-down treatment.
--Plan ahead. Have additional supers ready for when the strong flow begins. Make sure you've finished cleaning up any deadouts from last year.
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| This will be coming soon. |
The Illinois Queen Initiative is hosting a free online zoom presentation next week. 48 Hour Queen Cells will be explained and discussed by an experienced beekeeper. Pre-registration is required. Find the link to their site here.
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