Fall/Winter Management for South Carolina

Midlands Beekeepers

Mid-State Beekeepers Association

What Do Bees Need?

In order to survive bees need:

1) a dry cavity

2) food/water

3) assistance dealing with parasites.

Randy Oliver

http:///scientificbeekeeping.com/the-rules-for-successful-beekeeping

Be Flexible Beekeeping is like a dance. Spring brings us a time to expand and grow. But we must also be willing to flex downward as times of plenty wane.

The Art of Beekeeping – The beekeeper watches many things in making decisions; weather, flora, bee behavior, hive conditions, pest pressure, food stores. Let these things guide you in your decisions.

South Carolina Fall Management August thru November

• Chores done now will have a direct impact on Winter and next Spring.

• Beekeeper chores include: making splits, combining weak hives, re-queening, pulling off queen excluders, cleaning and repairing equipment, feeding, applying medication, weighing your hive, checking for Small Hive Beetles (SHB) and mites, and looking for diseases.

• Proper storage of supers is critical so they will also make it to the early Spring without rodents, spiders and wax moth damage.

Fall Flexibility • Bee strong and bee flexible!

• Entrance reducers as colony reduces in size and nectar dries up can help colony stand guard(some beekeepers do not use reducers).

• Flex downward in hive size. That can be psychologically difficult.

• Equivalent of two 10 frame deeps or 10 frame deep and a medium in SC

• Too much hive space is too much to guard from hive beetles, moths, robbers, etc.

• Walk to your backdoor and throw Queen excluder as far as you can in hopes you won’t find it again.

Re-queen if Needed • Local queens will become increasingly difficult

to get in August but you can order.

• A queen added in the Fall may benefit the colony coming out of Winter with stronger Winter and Spring workers, and stronger Spring buildup.

• Re-queen as early as possible. The new queen has to get established and lay enough brood to have bees to go thru the winter. By September, in Italian colonies, should have 5-6 frames of brood.

Splits (optional)

Splits – In August you have your last chance to make splits.

– Probably too late to have them raise a queen themselves.

– Locally available queens are becoming difficult to obtain.

– Splits should be set up strong and you will need to simulate a nectar flow by feeding.

– Don’t expect them to draw comb – you should provide.

Combining Weak Hives • By September, weak colonies that have

struggled may need combining.

• Weak + Weak = Weak

• Weak + Strong = Strong

• Have a good idea why they are weak.

• Don’t combine a diseased or infested weak colony with another colony.

• Pinch the weak queen? Or not?

• Feed!

Fall Feeding • Midlands: We have a weak Fall nectar flow in

September/October. First year colonies, splits, and nucs may still need help with carbohydrate (honey) and protein (pollen) stores. Assess stores and supplement if needed. First frost ~ November 1st.

• Assessment: Pick up your hive from rear. Use two/three fingers.

• Usually enough pollen in the Midlands. Be careful with feeding pollen in hive due to SHB.

• In August and early September encourage some brood rearing of winter bees with 1:1 syrup but change to a thicker, 2:1 mix by mid September to start reducing moisture in the hive and encourage them to store.

• Ventilate to remove moisture!

Fall Mite Treatments • Read the literature in the catalogs on when

the various treatments can be applied. Note temperature restrictions and if honey is allowed on hive.

• Your chance of successfully getting a colony through the first year will depend on how well you control mites. You fed them; you gave them a dry home; don’t let them die of viral disease.

• Also, keep Small Hive Beetles under control. Oil traps, Barriers, Swiffer Pads

Storing Drawn Comb over Winter • Protect your drawn comb – it’s gold!

– Freeze brood combs (darker) if possible. 3 days kills eggs

– Leave open to light and air

– Para dichlorobenzene (ParaMoth or PDB)

– Freezing weather will kill off pests.

Late Fall Jobs • Repair, store, and paint equipment.

• Work on assembling next year’s equipment.

• Think about next year’s goals.

• Attend meetings!

• Make Christmas wish list.

• If your hives are light on stores consider a dry feed like fondant or sugar on top.

• Time to start thinking of reducing moisture. Don’t be afraid to ventilate!

South Carolina Winter Management December to February

• Winter Hive Management starts in December and goes until the Spring nectar flow starts.

• Jobs include checking for adequate stores, a laying queen, and checking for and treating for disease if needed.

Going into Winter • Colony clusters around 57F to stay

warm. You may open them briefly to do a brief inspection if the temperatures are above 60F, however don’t rearrange or disrupt the cluster.

• Entrance reducers should be on smallest size.

• Top should be vented to allow moisture to escape.

Winter Checks • Go into hive once in December.

• But check on them often:

– Are they flying above 50F?

– Are they bringing in pollen?

– Are there a few guard bees at entrance on nice days?

– Lift the hive from behind to check weight.

– Place ear to side of hive and knock.

• Go into hive once Mid January when above 60F

– Queen should be laying.

– Is brood present?

– Is pollen present?

– Are they bringing in pollen?

– Lift hive from behind to check weight.

– Check Outer Cover for signs of excess moisture (mold). Vent if needed.

– Check for diseases.

• Early to mid February

– Brief check if flying; more if >60F

– Red Maple is blooming – yellow green pollen.

– Notice an increase in brood.

– Is honey/pollen present? If not, feed.

– Brood rearing uses a tremendous amount of resources – do they have honey and pollen? Late February and early March is often when colonies starve by using up their resources.

– Check for diseases.

• Late February - March: Go into hive as weather permits if flying; or >60F –but with a purpose.

• Add or remove boxes of drawn comb

• Bees starting to build up

• Begin to implement swarm prevention management. Watch weather forecast!

• Rotate boxes

• Open brood nest (drawn comb or empty frames

• Note weak hives

• Add drawn comb if available to give queen space

• Check for diseases

Suggestions • Use a Beekeeping Calendar as on page

39 of Beekeeping Basics, adjusted for South Carolina. Or this one by Dr. Mike Hood as found on the South Carolina State Beekeepers’ Association web page.

• Keep your own beekeeping journal and track hive events, plant blooms, chores, etc. You’ll be glad you did – next year!

Credits • Thank you to David MacFawn, Master

Craftsman Beekeeper, for his published work on Seasonal Management of Honey Bees in the Midlands of South Carolina.

– Fall Management of Honey Bees

– Winter Management of Honey Bees