Glossary of Terms Used in Beekeeping
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Swarming (Bulletin #404) (PDF)
Swarming Apiculture Bulletin #404 Updated: 10/15 Swarming is a natural method of honeybee colonies to reproduce, resulting in the creation of a new honeybee colony in addition to the established colony. Contributing factors to swarming • Crowding - too many bees, food stores and no cell space for the queen to lay eggs in. • Poor air circulation • April-May is swarming season and healthy colonies develop strong swarm impulse. • Inclement weather - crowded bees confined by cold, wet weather will build queen cells and swarm out on the first sunny, warm day. All colonies in similar condition will swarm as soon as weather becomes favorable. • Large amount of drone brood in early spring is a precursor to strong swarm impulse. Catching the swarm A swarm generally emerges from the hive between 11:00AM and 1:00PM and settles close to the apiary for several hours. Allow the swarm to cluster for at least 30 minutes before placing the swarm in a single super with frames, bottom board and hive cover. Leave the hive for the remainder of the day to allow all the bees to enter, before moving to a permanent location. Examine the new colony after a week and then every two weeks from mid May to late June. Look for disease, brood abundance, brood pattern and overall condition of the colony. Add room where necessary, cut queen cells, or divide, to prevent other swarms to develop. Hived swarms have no stored food reserves and may go hungry when there is little forage. When feeding sugar syrup, add antibiotics as a precautionary measure. -
Colony Growth and Seasonal Management of Honey Bees
Colony Growth and Seasonal Management of Honey Bees Management of honey bees varies based on whether Although honey is essential food for bees, colonies pollination or honey production is the primary objective. cannot grow without sufficient amounts of incoming A simple scheme for those interested in maximizing honey pollen. Pollen contains the essential amino acids, sterols, production can be a template for any beginning beekeeper. minerals, and vitamins that bee larvae need to grow into Managing honey bees involves seasonal manipulations adult honey bees. Bee colonies cannot grow without brood of hive space to provide room when necessary for the production, and brood production hinges on good-quality expanding brood-rearing area and for storage of surplus nutrition that comes from pollen. Hence, bee colonies grow honey. Good management includes reducing colony space largest during or just after periods of maximum numbers during periods of dearth of incoming food, preventing of blooming plants in the spring and autumn (Figure 1). swarming of bees, feeding food supplements to offset any These periods are called honey flows. shortcomings in winter stores or to help stimulate brood Blooming of food plants can be predicted by a crude production during critical periods of colony development, geographic rule of adding a 1-week delay in bloom for keeping young and good-quality queens in colonies, and every 200 miles or so northward in latitude. For example, if managing diseases and parasites. sumac is blooming heavily in southern Mississippi during the first week of May, a person living near the Mississippi- Basic Growth Cycle Tennessee border might expect sumac to bloom from the Good seasonal management begins with understand- third week of May into the beginning of June. -
Honey Farming by ROB Manley
HONEY FARMING by R. O. B. MANLEY FABER AND FABER LTD 24 Russell Square London First published in mcmxlvi by Faber and Faber Limited 24 Russell Square London W.C. 1 Second Impression September mcmxlvi Third impression September mcmxlviii Printed in Great Britain by Latimer Trend & Co Ltd Plymouth All rights reserved PREFACE he writing of this little book about bee-farming and honey Tproduction was suggested by the many letters I have received during the past ten years, since the book Honey Production in the British Isles was published. I have tried to make it as useful and interesting as I can, but I am very well aware of its imperfections. To write an interesting account of technical operations and methods of working is not always easy. Honey Farming is not written for the novice, and in writing it I have assumed some considerable experience on the part of the reader; but I am now working on another book intended expressly for the beginner who wishes to take up the business of beekeeping as distinct from making a hobby of it, a rather difficult thing to do. I have to thank those friends who have assisted me with the photographs used in this book, especially Mr. C. P. Abbott who did most of them. The drawings were made by Mr. R. W. Ford of Reading. R. O. B. MANLEY CONTENTS Preface page 5 I. Retrospect 11 II. Essentials 28 III. Climate, Pasturage, and Apiaries 42 IV. Apiary Equipment 57 V. Breeding Bees 83 VI. The Passing Seasons 124 VII. -
Module 8 Study Notes
Module 8 Study Notes Introduction: These notes have been prepared as part of my studies for Module 8. As always comments are appreciated as with everything in beekeeping there seems to be as many variants to a topic as beekeepers discussing it . The reader is more than welcome to download a copy of the notes. References: The Honeybee Inside Out Celia F. Davis The Honeybee Around and About Celia F. Davis Guide to Bees and Honey Ted Hooper Beekeeping Study Notes (modules 5,6,7&8) J.D & B.D. Yates The Pollen Loads of the Honeybee Dorothy Hodges Honey Farming R.O.B. Manley Google BBKA Appendices to Syllabus Beecraft BBKA News MBBKA Study Group MBBKA Basic Course Notes 1 Module 8 Study Notes 8.1 the assessment and management of the quality of a colony for honey production; ...................... 4 8.2 the management of colonies for the production of oil seed rape (Brassica spp.) and ling heather (Calluna vulgaris) honey, the techniques involved in overcoming problems associated with extracting these honeys; .......................................................................................................................................... 6 8.3 the management of colonies for the production of comb honey (sections and cut-comb) and its preparation and presentation for sale; .............................................................................................. 7 8.4 the properties of honey including specific gravity, refractive index, viscosity, hygroscopicity, electrical conductivity, reactions to heat and ageing; ........................................................................... -
Simple Methods of Making Increase
Simple Methods of Making Increase by Wally Shaw Table of Contents 1. Introduction 3 2. The Locally Adapted Bee 3 3. Reasons for Learning How to Make Increase 4 4. Scale of Increase Covered 5 5. Prejudices over Emergency Queens 6 6. Another Common Misconception 7 7. Making Emergency Queen Cells 7 8. Why not wait until a colony sets up to swarm? 8 9. When to Split Colonies 8 10. What Must the Colony Have to Make an Effective Split? 8 11. Which Colonies to Split? 9 12. How to Balance the Split 9 13. A More ‘Natural’ Approach to Making Nucs 11 14. Nuc Boxes 13 15. Split Boards 14 16. Finding the Queen 14 17. Details and Discussion of Examples 15 Example 1 15 Example 2 16 Example 3a and b 17 18. Drawn Comb or Foundation 19 19. Concluding Remarks 19 Appendix 1 – Finding the Queen 20 Appendix 2 – Getting Combs Drawn Prior to Making Increase 22 This booklet has been published and funded by the Welsh Beekeepers’ Association 2 Simple Methods of Making Increase 1. Introduction This booklet is intended to replace ‘Beekeeping – Making Increase’ published by the Welsh Assembly Government which was itself based on an earlier version produced by the National Bee Unit. The aim of this new booklet is to give more detailed coverage of this important subject and in a form of a practical guide for use by both individual beekeepers and associations who want to become self-sufficient for the provision of new or replacement colonies and queens. The methods described are not designed for large scale queen rearing but should be more than adequate to meet the needs of the hobby beekeepers who, let us not forget, manage about 85% of the colonies in Britain. -
Massachusetts Beekeepers Association's
MASSACHUSETTS BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES Disclaimer This document is intended solely as guidance. This document does not confer, and is not intended to create legal rights or impose legal duties or obligations. The general descriptions provided here reflect the Massachusetts Beekeepers Association’s current views regarding reasonable considerations for safe and healthy management of honeybees in Massachusetts and may not apply to particular situations based on the circumstances. This document may be revised periodically. Introduction It has often been observed that if you ask ten beekeepers the same question, you will get at least ten different answers. This adage reflects, in part, the great diversity of practice that has grown up around beekeeping. For every beginning beekeeper, there is inevitably another beekeeper, whose enthusiasm to share his or her personal observations and techniques provides the spark for the new beekeeper’s own venture into beekeeping. Diversity of ideas and practices among beekeepers is essential to the continued success of honeybees and beekeeping. Yet, it must also be recognized that beekeepers do not exist separately and apart from the communities in which they live, and as beekeeping becomes more popular, particularly in suburban and urban areas, the potential for misunderstandings with neighbors and local officials also grows. Thus, responsible management of one’s hives within the community in which they are located is also essential. For this reason, the Massachusetts Beekeepers Association has developed these Best Management Practices to provide a framework for determining appropriate, site- specific management practices to promote healthy bees and avoid potential conflicts between beekeepers and others. -
A Beekeeper's Guide Year in Management for a Virginia Apiary
A BEEKEEPER’S YEAR IN A VIRGINIA APIARY January: Long, cold nights are ideal for talking and reading about your bees. Start the New Year off by attending a beekeeper meeting in your area. Read beekeeping books and magazines. Review successes and failures of past year. Make plans for any needed changes in management and schedule. Assemble and repair beekeeping equipment. Hope for a January thaw so the bees have a cleansing flight. Monitor weights and amount of honey in hives. February: Maples, willows, and other early season plants are in bloom. Make a brief check of wintering colonies for honey and brood (laying queen). Reposition frames with honey and pollen placing them near the brood cluster. First pollen should become available. If low on pollen add a pollen supplement or substitute. Feed bees 1:1 sugar/water syrup on warmer days to minimize winter mortality. If low on honey stores feed 2:1 sugar/water syrup. In late February stimulate brood production by feeding 1:2 sugar/water syrup. March: Dandelion is in bloom. Check colonies on a warm, sunny day. Check for old and rotting wood, frames in disrepair or with old comb, food reserves, and brood pattern and size. If food reserves are short feed 1:1 sugar/water syrup. Colonies that need feeding should be monitored and fed continually as needed. Clean bottom boards. Mid to late March replace solid bottom board with screen bottom board or remove cover from screen. Reverse hive boxes to position brood in lower box. Treat soil for small hive beetle (SHB) where infestations are found. -
BEEKEEPING: General Information by R
BEEKEEPING: General Information by R. A. Morse and E. J. Dyce A Cornell Cooperative Extension Publication Information Bulletin 90 The New York State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is a statutory college of the State University, at Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y. 2 BEEKEEPING: This bulletin provides general informa Honey Bee as a Pollinator tion about beekeeping that is not usually General Information included in current publications. Informa The pollination of agricultural crops is by R. A. Morse and E. J. Dyce tion on specific beekeeping problems can the most important contribution of honey be obtained by writing to the Office of bees to our national economy. Although Apiculture, Department of Entomology, the value of honey bees for pollination Contents Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853. cannot be estimated , it is many times the 2 Extent of Beekeeping Industry total value of both the honey and bees wax that they produce . Without cross 2 Honey Bee as a Pollinator Extent of Beekeeping Industry pollination many crops would not set seed 3 Who Keeps Bees? or produce fruit. Many insects other than In New York State about 8,500 people the honey bee can carry pollen from one 3 Where Bees Can Be Kept keep at least 125,000 colonies of honey plant to another; but in areas where agri 4 A Skilled Occupation bees. The annual production is about 8 culture has been intensified, such as the million pounds of honey and 120,000 fruit areas in New York State, the number 4 How to Acquire a Knowledge of pounds of beeswax. -
Module 1 Honeybee Management Introduction
Module 1 Honeybee Management Introduction This document is an updated reference used as part of Mid Bucks Beekeepers Association study group preparation for the BBKA Module 1 examination. When studying please do not use this document as the only reference source as the intention is that the contents be used as an aide memoir. As we all know if you ask 6 Beekeepers the same question you will get 6 differing answers all of which will be right so do not blindly trust what written here. The information included in the document has been drawn from a multitude of sources. The sources include: Guide to Bees and Honey Ted Hooper The Honeybee Around and About Celia F Davies BBKA News Beecraft MidBucks Beekeepers Association Study Group Internet britishbee.org.uk dave-cushman.net thorne.co.uk en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beekeeping google The contents of the document follow the syllabus of Module 1 as defined by BBKA. 13/1/2013 Page 1 Module 1 Honeybee Management Contents The Candidate shall be able to give a detailed account of:- Contents .............................................................................................................................. 2 1.1 the types of hives and frames used by beekeepers in the United Kingdom,including comparative knowledge of the following hives, National, WBC, Smith, National Deep, Commercial, Langstroth and Dadant. (exact frame sizes are NOT required); ..................... 4 1.2 the principles which govern the design of hives and frames, including the concept of bee space, and the main features of their construction; ...................................................... 8 1.3 the use of wax foundation; ........................................................................................... 10 1.4 Methods of fitting frames with wired and unwired wax foundation; ............................. -
National Bee Unit Hive Cleaning and Sterilisation
National Bee Unit Hive Cleaning and Sterilisation Honey bee colonies are subject to infection or infestation by a range of pests and diseases. These include insects, mites, fungi, viruses, and bacteria, such as the microbes that cause American or European foulbrood (AFB and EFB) (Paenibacillus larvae and Melissococcus plutonius). Honey bees are social insects and are at risk of epidemics, so it is essential that beekeepers not only recognise the signs of such pests and diseases, but also know how to reduce their impact in colonies, apiaries and the locality. A key factor in preventing the spread of infection is good hygiene. The following Fact Sheet provides some advice about when and how you should be cleaning your hives and your equipment. Figure 1, clean apiary storage A few notes to the reader Be aware that to clean and sterilise your hives and equipment properly can be hard physical work. You need to make sure that you have all the necessary tools and equipment ready for the task before you get started. You also need to have appropriate National Bee Unit APHA, National Agri-Food Innovation Campus Sand Hutton, York. YO41 1LZ Telephone 03003030094 email [email protected] NBU Web site: www.nationalbeeunit.com March 2018 ©Crown copyright. This sheet, excluding the logo, may be reproduced free of charge providing that it is reproduced accurately and not used in a misleading way. The material must be acknowledged protective clothing, including eye protection, strong waterproof gloves, steel capped boots etc. If possible, arrange for someone to help you on the day. -
Beekeeper Registration Application City of Richfield
Beekeeper Registration Application City of Richfield FEE: $30.00 Directions: Print legibly in blue or black ink. Answer all questions and indicate not applicable if appropriate. Any falsification of answers may result in denial of the registration. Please complete both sides of the form. Return to Richfield Business Licensing – 6700 Portland Avenue, Richfield MN 55423. Section 1: Applicant 1. Name: Last First Full Middle Maiden Name 2. Permanent Residence Address: Street City State County Zip 3. Apiary Address (if different than above) Street City State County Zip 4. Home Phone: Cell Phone: Business Phone: 5. Email Address 1: Email Address 2: Section 2: Beekeeping Education / Experience 6. Do you have formal education (courses) or prior hands-on beekeeping experience/ Yes No If yes, please describe and provide documentation: Section 3: Acknowledgements Please check each box and then sign and date indicating that you have read and agree with the following: Copies of city code 906 (the Beekeeping ordinance) and city code 509.21 (the Home Occupation ordinance) are attached to this registration form. I acknowledge that I have read, understand and will comply with all the requirements of both ordinances. City code 906 requires that the Richfield Public Safety Department shall send notice to all owners of lots adjacent to any lot line of the apiary site. I acknowledge and understand that the City will send notice to all owners of lots adjacent to any lot line of the apiary site. I understand and agree that I may not engage in the practice of beekeeping within the City of Richfield until I have received notification from the Public Safety Department that my beekeeping registration has been approved. -
View Our Catalogue
Professional beekeepers, manufacturers and retailers est.1953 NEW products for 2021 Catalogue of Beekeeping Equipment 2021 Introduction Welcome to Contents WE WILL BE HAVING OUR Starter Kits 2 Maisemore Apiaries Ltd SALE ONLINE Packaged Rock Bottom Bee Hives 3 Contents FOR 2021 Bees on Comb, Queens/Honey & Books 4 Honey House & Storage Cedar Hives & Hive Parts 5 We no longer have a shop FOR THREE DAYS ONLY, FROM SATURDAY 26TH JUNE Poly Hives, Nucs & Parts 10 but offer a ‘Click & Collect’ Frames 16 TO MONDAY 28TH JUNE. service from our premises. Beeswax Foundation 18 Shows & Exhibitions 2021 Clothing 20 Maisemore Apiaries began when Leo and Leslie Hiam The Environment Extraction 24 started keeping bees as a hobby, when the Second All the timber used in making our bee hives and ALL SHOWS ARE VIRTUAL EVENTS World War began they had to go and help the war Bee Health 34 hive parts come from sustainable forests around the DUE TO COVID19: effort so the bees were left to their own devices, on world. their return they increased the number of bees and Feeders & Bee Feed 38 Wood waste is all recycled, ULSTER BEEKEEPING ASSOCIATION began to make beekeeping equipment. Smokers 42 saw dust and shavings ANNUAL CONVENTION Now Maisemore Apiaries is still a family run and are all bagged in our plant Friday 19th - Saturday 20th February Hive Tools & Hardware 43 owned business, looked after by Eric, Johnathan, and used as bedding for Caroline and Mark Hiam, we now have approx. 1000 pets and horses, timber off Greenmount Campus, Co. Antrim, BT41 Parts & Accessories 44 hives of bees all in standard National hives around cuts are used as firewood.