BACKYARDBEEKEEPING‐‐ March22and24,2011AmadorCounty

SeanKriletich–UniversityofCACooperativeExtensionAgandNaturalResourcesskriletich@ucdavis.edu(209)223‐6837

1.Introduction

2.LearningfromtheHiveEntranceI.HoneybeeForaging

a.Water‐‐coolingthehive b.Nectar‐‐Honeybeescollectthenectarproducedintheflowerandprocesstomakehoney c.Pollen‐‐Proteinofthehoneybeesdiet

d.Propolis‐‐beeglueII.GuardingtheHiveIII.CoolingandHeatingtheHive

3.Feedingyourbees I.SugarWater–50%sugar–50%water II.DrivertSugar–canbefeddry–(powderedsugarcontainscornstarch!)

III.PollenPattiesandLoosePollenSubstitute–feedduringtimesofpollendearthintheenvironment

4.WorkingwithHoneybees I.BeekeepingwiththeSeasons II.MovingBees III.QueenIntroduction IV.Swarming V.ManagingPests a.VarroaMites b.WaxMoths c.Ants d.Mice e.Skunks f.Bears4.HoneyHarvestandProductsoftheHive I.Honey—extractedandcomb a.ExtractionEquipment 1.Extractor 2.HotKnife 3.CappingsScraper 4.Foodgradetray 5.FoodGradeBucket 6.Cheesecloth II.Beeswax III.Pollination IV.Specialtyproducts a.pollen,royaljelly,propolis10.Questions??

Learning From the Hive Entrance: ‐NumberofBeescominginandoutofthehiveisanexcellentindicationofhivestrength.‐Ifitisa65plusdegreedaywithlittlewindtherewillbe:

~100plusbeesperminuteinafantasticallystronghive~50beesperminuteonahivewhichisdoingwell~15orlessbeesperminutemeansthehiveisprobablyweak.

‐IftheQueenislayingwellatleast5%oroneoutofevery20beesshouldbecarryingpollen.‐Ifthebeescominginarenotcarryingpollentheyareeithercarryingwaterornectar.Exceptionisinaconiferforestwheretheymaybecarryingsignificantamountsofpropolis.‐Ifthebeesarepingingoffofyouoryouarestungwithoutopeningthehive:

‐thereislikelytoberobbingoccurring–lookforbattlesbetweenbeesatthehiveentrance.

‐askunkormousemaybeagitatingthebees‐meateatinginsectsmaybeattackingthehive–lookforbattlesbetweenbeesandyellow‐jackets

‐Ifthebeesarefanningattheentrancethehiveisprobablyoverheated.Thinkaboutcrackingthetoptoprovideventilation.Donotleavemorethana¼inchwidespace.‐Ifthebeesareformingabeardonthefrontofthehivetheyareeither:

‐Overcrowded–ifthebeardishappening24hoursadaythisisprobablythecase.Timetoaddsupersorconsidersplittingthehive‐DoingFine–ifthebeardisonlyhappeningduringtheeveningthroughmorningthebeesinthisbeardarelikelytobefieldbees.Checkthehivetomakesureitisnotovercrowded,butthisisnotastrongreasontosuperorsplitthecolony.

Feedingyourbeesiftheyareweakordonothaveadequatehoneystores:

Adequatehoneystoresat2000’elevationinthefoothills~70lbsperhiveinOctoberwhichisabout10mediumdepthframesofhoneycompletelyfullor8fulldepthframes.Higherelevationsorcoldsinkswillrequiremorehoneystoresforsurvival.

IntheSpring: ‐Feeddrivertsugarontopofthehiveoverapieceofnewspaper

‐Feed50%sugar/50%watersugarwatermixathiveentrance,inhivetopfeederorframefeeder.

‐FeedPollenwhenBuckeyeisinbloom–April/May/Junedependingonelevation pollenisfeddirectlyoverbroodareaIntheFall: ‐Feeddrivertsugarontopofthehiveoverapieceofnewspaper ‐Trynottofeedliquidfoods

‐Feedingpollencancausethequeentoextendherlayingseasonwhichcancausewinteroverpopulationleadingtostarvation

PUREHONEY

fromAmadorandCalaverasCountiesHoneybeescanbemanagedusingorganicpractices(withoutpesticidesandherbicides).Weallowourhoneybeestoeattheirnaturalfood—honey,insteadofsupplyingthemwithsugarwaterduringwinterandperiodsoflowpollenandnectarflow.Wesupporttheimmunesystemofbeesbyallowinghoneybeestofeednaturalproteinsources(pollen)totheirbrood.Weprovideourbeeswithadiversityofforageinsteadofmonoculturesofthesametypeofforage.Ourbeesdonotcollectsugarwaterforthepurposeofmakinghoney.Thecolorofourhoneyisfromlocalplants.

Thehoneyisextractedwithoutheatandfilteredthroughascreentogiveyouthemaximumnutritionalvalue.Honeyisanaturalsweetener,whichcontainssome25differentsugars.Italsocontainsvaryingamountsofminerals.

HoneybeeFacts:

• Honeybeesareimportantbecausetheypollinateapproximately2/3ofallagriculturalcropsintheUSincludingfruit,fiber,nutandvegetablecrops.

o almonds,apples,apricots,avocados,blackberries,blueberries,cantaloupes,cherries,cranberries,cucumbers,pears,raspberries,strawberries,watermelons,alfalfa,asparagus,broccoli,brusselsprouts,cabbage,carrots,clover,cotton,onions,radishes,squash,sweetclover...

• Honeybeesarethesolesourceofhoneyandbeeswax,afinewaxwithunusualqualities• Thehoneybeehasbeenaroundfor20millionyears• Itistheonlyinsectthatproducesfoodeatenbyman• Honeybeesareenvironmentallyfriendlyandarevitalaspollinators• OneoutofeverythreebitesoffoodtheaverageAmericaneatsisactuallyattributedtothehoney

beepollination• Thehoneybee’swingsstroke11,400timesperminute,thusmakingtheirdistinctivebuzz• Ahoneybeecanflyuptosixmilesinaday,andasfastas15milesperhour• Theaveragehoneybeewillactuallymakeonetwelfthofateaspoonofhoneyinitslifetime• Ittakesover1,000workerstogather1poundofhoneyfromabout2millionflowers• Thehoneybeesmustflyover55,000milestoproduce1poundofhoney• Workerbeesmake10to15collectionstripsperday• Ahoneybeevisits50to100flowersduringacollectiontrip• Duringwinter,honeybeesfeedonthehoneytheycollectedduringthewarmermonths.They

formatightclusterintheirhivetokeepthequeenandthemselveswarm.• Thehoneybeecolonyismadeupofthreeindividuals—theworker,thequeen,andthedrone.An

averagehivecanholdaround50,000.(1queen,20drones,andtherestworkerbees)o TheWorkerBeeisthelaborerforthecolony.Theworkerisafemalebeethatisadapted

fornectarandpollengathering.Theylive6‐8weeksanddoallthework.o TheQueenBeeisthemotherofthecolony.Theentirecolonylifeisdependentuponher

efforts,forwithouttheeggsshelaysthecolonywouldsoondie.Sheistheonlyfemalebeeinthehivehavingfullydevelopedreproductiveorgansandtheabilitytolayfertilizedeggs.Thereisonlyonequeenperhiveandshecanlayupto1,500eggsperday.

o TheDroneBeeisthemale.Hisonlyfunctioninthecolonyismatingwiththequeen.Theyhavenostingersanddonotwork,onlymating.

HONEYBEESareimportantbecausetheypollinateapproximately2/3ofallagriculturalcropsintheUS Therearebetween50to60,000beesinahive.Thehoneybeeisasocialinsect,andonebeecannotsurviveawayfromthehivealone.Eachisespeciallyadaptedtoaspecializedchoreinthecolony.Survivalofthecolonythroughmanyyearsisdependentuponthequeen,workersanddronebeesperformingtheirspecialfunctions,whichfulfillallofhecolony’sneeds.1.TheKindsofBeesinaColony

QueenBee:ThereisonlyonequeeninthehiveDroneBees:TheonlymalebeesinthehiveWorkerBees:Performseverytaskwithinandoutsidethehiveexceptforegglayingandmating.

­­Thequeenisdifferentinappearancefromtheworkersanddrones.Thequeenmeasures7/8to1inchinlengthfromherheadtothetipofherabdomen.Theabdomenisenlargedatthefrontandtaperstotherear.Herwingsarelongerthanthoseoftheworkersandareovertheabdomen.Hersmooth,longlegslookbrighterthanthelegsofaworker.Thequeenwalksgracefullyacrossthefaceofthecombsometimesalmostsurroundedbyacircleofworkersallfacingthequeenwhooccupiesaclearspaceinthecenter.Sheisascompletelydependentupontheworkersasthecolonyisuponher.16daystoemerge.­­DroneBees:Theonlymalebeesinthehive.Theyliveforabout45days.Theresinglefunctionistomatewithvirginqueens.Theydonotcollectanynectarorpollenfromflowers,donotsecretewax,buildcombandcannotsting.Dronesmoveslowlyandonlyflyinthemiddleoftheday.Dronesliveforabout5days.Dronesaredevelopedfromunfertilizedeggs.Thedronebroodcellsareeasilydistinguishedfromtheworkerbroodcellsbecausetheyarelargerandarecappedwithadome.Duringthematingflightthedronemountsthebackofthequeenwhilebothareinflight.Immediatelyaftermatingthedronefallstothegrounddeadordying.24daystoemerge.­­WorkerBees:Performseverytaskwithinandwithoutthehiveexceptforegglayingandmating.Workerhoneybeesthatemergeinthespringnormallyliveforabout35days.Theyaresterilefemales.Theworkersareveryefficientandharmonious.Thereisawell‐organizeddivisionoflabor.Theworkerbeesperformasequenceoftasksaccordingtotheirageandthedevelopmentoftheirglands.21daystoemerge.Thefirst20daysofherlifearespentinthehive.Theirjobsinthehiveincludes:massfeeding,feedingthequeenanddrones,cellcleaning,removalofdebris,waxsecretion,cellbuilding,cappingofhoneyandbroodcells,receivingandhandlingnectar,packingpollen,fanningandventilatingthehiveandguardingthehive.Theremainderofherlifeisspentworkingasafieldbee.Shetakes10‐15ormoredailyflightsfromthecolonyforagingfornectar,pollenandwater.Workerscanflyupto6milesat15milesperhour

PREPARING TO KEEP BEES

Honey bees can be kept almost anywhere there are flowering plants that produce nectar and pollen. Choose a site for the apiary (group of beehives) that is discrete, sheltered from winds and partially shaded. Avoid low spots where cold, damp air accumulates in winter. Be considerate of non-beekeeping neighbors. Place hives so that bee flight paths do not cross sidewalks, playgrounds or other public areas. In dry weather, bees may collect water at neighbors’ swimming pools or water spigots. Avoid this by giving your bees a water source in your yard such as a container with floating wood. The floating objects prevent bees from drowning.

GETTING STARTED TOOLS AND PROTECTIVE GEAR 1. Smoker hive tool 2. Nylon bee brush 3. Aluminum frame grip 4. Zipper-veil bee suit 5. White plastic helmet gloves with nylon cuffs shoes and socks (no wool) EQUIPMENT 1. Hive Equipment: Brood Chamber: two 9-5/8" deep boxes Honey Supers: two 6-5/8" boxes 2. Frames: grooved top, grooved bottom with solid plastic waxed foundation 3. Queen excluder 4. Cover 5. Bottom Board with beeways; entrance reducer for Winter 6. Screened bottom (mite control) BEES No fewer than two, nor more than five colonies to start, if you can afford it go with new equipment Stock equipment with package from a reputable source, or a swarm. Feed light syrup until established. Light Syrup = 50% water 50% sugar APIARY LOCATION 1. Location, location, location. Check what's blooming in a two mile radius. 2. Access by truck for loading. 3. High ground, dry. 4. Morning sun. Facing south or southeast if possible. 5. Water source between hive and the neighbors 6. Flight path clears passersby. Make bees fly over a fence or hedge.

WORKING WITH BEES AND QUEEN INTRODUCTION

MOVING BEES Lots of disasters happen when bees are being moved. Follow these recommendations to avoid trouble. 1. Wear full gear, and have a fully suited helper. Bees will fly toward a flashlight at night. 2. Bees will crawl into clothing at night, and will crawl up pants legs from the truck bed. 3. Load at dusk (not dark); unload strong colonies at dawn, esp. in warm weather. 4. Don't leave field bees--they are a danger to the public! 5. Don't bother colonies prior to moving. Do not hammer on boxes! 6. Smoke the colony before touching it. Set hives down gently. 7. Strap boxes together tightly with ratchet nylon straps. Tie hives in place so they can't slide if you put on the brakes. 8. You can often get away with stuffing the entrance for a short while, but you risk killing the bees if they get excited or hot. Professionals always leave the entrances wide open. If necessary to close, use a full size screen cover, or cover the whole hive with net or shadecloth. QUEEN INTRODUCTION I. Best during honeyflow or feeding syrup. 2. Introduced queen is accepted most readily by young bees with brood. 3. Caged queen must be brought to full laying condition, and take on colony odor. 4. Mailing cage introduction: remove (kill) old queen & cells; remove attendants; pull cork to expose candy; place cage screen side down between two brood frames. 5. Two-step method: same as above, but don't expose candy plug yet. Check back in 24 hrs to see if bees are trying to "ball" the queen by hanging on tight to the screen or biting it. Don't expose candy plug until bees are walking lightly over the screen and offering the queen food. 6. For best results, introduce the queen into a nuc of young bees and brood. When she's laying well, place the nuc on top of a dequeened colony over a sheet of slit newspaper.

BASIC BEEKEEPING MANAGEMENT

MAIN GOALS: build up strong colonies by May 15 for honeyflow, prevent colonies from swarming, give best location and plenty of supers to store honey, maintain good husbandry

SPRING MANAGEMENT

1. Check colonies by second week of January for egg laying

2. Reverse supers—in late January to early February, give plenty of room

3. Queens and requeening

4. Dearth—late spring

3. Objective: Get colonies strong but not swarming

SUMMER MANAGEMENT

1. Drawing comb

2. Supering

3. Harvesting

4. Objective: Leave all the honey the bees will need and harvest the rest

FALL MANAGEMENT

1. Stores and Feeding

2. Combine weak colonies

3. Arrangement of colony

4. Managing pests and diseases

5. Objective: Getting colonies ready for winter

WINTER MANAGEMENT

1. Exposure

2. Moisture

3. Mice

4. Starvation (Feb-April) and stress

5. Objective: To have the colony make it through the winter

SWARMING Swarming is a natural process. You won't be able to completely prevent it. If your colony swarms, it's not the end of the world. PREVENTION OPTIONS (in order of importance) 1. Requeen with young, well-bred queens 2. Give plenty of storage and brood space 3. Reverse brood chambers 4. Divide colonies or equalize colonies 5. Cut out queen cells (don't miss any) IF YOU CATCH A SWARM 1. Combine smaller swarms with each other or a weak colony 2. Add frames of brood to the swarm and feed syrup 3. Check quality of the queen (virgins won't lay for 2 weeks) QUESTIONS TO ASK FOR SWARM PICK UP 1. How high (do you need a ladder?) 2. How large is it (softball, football, basketball?) 3. What is it located on (a branch, side of the house?) 4. Have owner go outside and confirm above answers. 5. How long has it been there? 6. Is it bothering anyone TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT 1. Bee suit & brush (no smoker) 2. Ladder, shears, saw 3. Cardboard box, bucket, trash can, sheets, big piece of cardboard 4. Empty hive with combs

ProblemorDisease

Effect Cause AgeofBeesAffected

DiagnosticCharacteristics

Control

Livestock Knockoverhives

Cattlescratching

Fencing

Bears Tearopenhives

Boxestornopen Electricfence,rooftop,horsetrailer

Skunk Eatbees Adult Scratchedsoil,“hot”bees

Chickenwireonground

Mice Nestincombs Hivetrashatentrance

Entrancereducer

Birds Eatbeesinflight

Adult

Hornets/YellowJackets

Eatbees/larvae Adult Trapping

Ants Botherorkillbees;steelhoney

Antsenteringcolony,beesfightingants

Oil

Robbing Stealhoney

diseasetransmission

Honeybees Beesprobingathivecracks;fightingwithguards;cloudsofbees

Prevention,reduceentrance,protectweakcolonies,don’texposehoneycombsordropscraps

WaxMoth Damagecombs Wax“worms” Silkentunnels Strongcolony,coldstorage

MoldyCombs Looksugly Fungi Ondampcombs Beeswillcleanup

VarroaMite Damagedpupae,colonydeath

Externalmite Pupae&adult

Testfor,orvisualonbeesandpupae

Screenedbottomboards

Starvation Colonydeath Nohoney All Deadbeesareheadfirstincombs

Feedhoney,syrup,orsugarbefore

Combinewith

LayingWorker NoQueen Brood

Scatteredeggs,dronebroodinworkercells

queenrightcolony

FailingQueen Queenoutofstoredsemen

Brood Poorpattern,dronebroodinworkercells

Requeen

PollenDearth Colonystress Nopollen All Nopollenstored Feedpollenorsubstitute

Poisoning Declineofcolony

CaliforniaBuckeye

All

Poisoning Declineofcolony

Agriculturalandbackyardapplicationsofpesticides

All