Early-spring Management of the Apiary

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 87, Issue 3, 15 September 1953, Page 257

Early-spring Management of the Apiary

Seasonal Notes for the Domestic Beekeeper

THE increasing warmth of spring and the early flow of pollen and nectar from sources such as fruit tree blossom and willow encourage colonies of bees to begin brood rearing, which should continue at a constantly accelerated pace, enabling the colonies to reach maximum strength by the time the main nectar flow starts. Correct management of the domestic apiary at this stage is therefore of great importance and is discussed in this article by T. P. J. Williams, Apiary Instructor, Department of Agriculture, Hamilton.

THIS time of the year is usually the beginning of a busy period for bees and beekeeper. Management during the next few months will determine to a large extent the crop that a colony will have produced by the end of the honey flow. Every advantage should be taken of fine, warm days to give each colony a thorough overhaul. It will be necessary to ensure that each hive has sufficient stores of honey and pollen and that the queen is in good condition and to examine the brood for indications of disease. Handling of Bees Bees may be handled quite easily under some conditions, as for example with a new swarm or when the weather is warm and they are bringing in nectar and pollen. However, no matter what the conditions a beekeeper should always wear a bee veil to protect his face and give him a sense of security. Details of a handy type of folding wire bee veil are contained in Bulletin No. 267 “Beekeeping in New Zealand”, pages 10 and 11, which is available from main offices of the Department at 2s. 6d. per copy. No beekeeper can afford to be without a bee smoker, without which it would be almost impossible to work a hive. Smoke frightens bees, which consider themselves in danger of losing their home and take the precaution of filling themselves with sufficient honey to last them a few

. days. When in this condition they are not so inclined to be aggressive, hence the use of smoke. Old, clean sacking or pine needles make good smoker fuel. When a hive is being worked the beekeeper should not stand in front of the hive entrance, but to one side. Before the hive is opened a few puffs of smoke should be given at the entrance. The cover is then removed and placed alongside the hive in a reversed position so that, if necessary, the top box may be placed on it while the lower box is being examined. The smoker is again brought into use when the mat is being removed. A few gentle puffs drive any bees off the tops of the frames. The smoker may then be placed to one side until the bees show signs of becoming aggressive. Individual frames can then be lifted out, care being taken to avoid quick, jerky movements and jarring of the hive or frames. When all the combs in the brood chamber are to be examined, the first outside nearest frame should be removed and stood against the hive close to the entrance. This will allow plenty of room for the beekeeper to examine the other combs and so avoid crushing bees. Cleaning the Hive A quantity of refuse will be found on the bottom board of the hive after winter. The best way of removing this is to have a spare, clean bottom board. The hive should be lifted off

its stand on to the clean board and the old one removed and cleaned. The entrance to the hive should be kept clear of grass, which would obstruct the bees in their flights to and from the hive, causing the deaths of many. A piece of old tin laid down in front of the hive will stop the grass from growing and so keep the entrance clear.

Stores and Feeding Even though the bees are active at this time of the year gathering nectar and pollen, they are not safe in regard to stores, for it is at this time that there is the greatest danger of starvation. The hive is stimulated by the early flow, brood rearing is rapidly increased, and heavy inroads are made into stores. The colony will therefore require 301 b. of honey or six full combs. If the beekeeper does not have any frames of honey on hand for feeding, a solution of sugar syrup is a convenient substitute. On no account should honey be fed to bees unless there is certainty that it has come from disease-free hives. A sugar syrup is prepared by mixing one part of sugar to one of water by volume. The sugar will dissolve readily in hot water and the syrup should be fed to the bees when it is lukewarm. A simple type of feeder to use is a 51b. honey tin with a few small nail holes punched through the lid. The tin is reversed over a hole cut in the hive mat. An empty super is placed on the hive to provide space for the tin. The syrup should be fed to the bees as late in the day as possible.

Condition of the Queen From now on the queen is called on to lay sufficient eggs not only to maintain the ? colony. strength but to increase it so that by the time the main honey flow is about to begin the hive will have reached maximum strength. \lf the queen fails at this stage, as old queens often do, any surplus honey which may have been gathered will now be lost. If there is no brood or eggs at this time, it may be assumed that the hive is queenless. No worker brood but plenty of drone brood would indicate that the hive has a drone layer or laying workers. A queen should be pro-, cured without delay or the hive put on top of a colony that has a queen.

The two hives should be separated by a sheet of newspaper. When this has been gnawed through the bees will unite peacefully. The condition of the queen may be gauged by examining the frames of brood. A good queen will have her brood laid in a compact group, whereas a poor queen lays patchy brood. Disease A careful watch should be kept on the brood. If the cappings over the brood cells are all even in colour, well rounded, and compact, the brood may be considered clean. Should American foul-brood (.Bacillus larvae) be present, some of the cappings will be

darker in colour than those of the surrounding brood and some sunken or punctured. When a doubtful cell is found the capping should be removed. If the cell is healthy, the white larva or the head of the bee will be seen, but if there is a dark mass lying in the cell, a match stick or twig should be inserted into it, twisted, and withdrawn. If the mass adheres to the stick and may be roped out for a short way, foul-brood is indicated.

When this disease is discovered the hive should .be closed. The hive tool should be scorched in a fire and any other equipment washed in disinfectant. Too much care ..cannot be taken to avoid carrying the infection to other hives. Advice on the best Way to destroy the hive should be obtained from- the Apiary Instructor for the district. All photographs by Morgan's.

Bulletins for the Beekeeper Free Bulletin No. 242 Bee Diseases Chargeable Bulletin No. 267 Beekeeping in New Zealand. .. 2s. 6d. The above bulletins, part of a series of over 350 on all aspects of farming, are available post free from the nearest office of the Department of Agriculture, or from the Head ' Office of the Department, Box 2298, r Wellington. .