Every hive inspection holds more than meets the eye. While the basics—brood, eggs, stores, space, and health—are essential, the real lessons often come from what we overlook. When a hive suddenly fails after “looking fine” just weeks before, something was missed. Learning to look beyond the obvious and view each inspection as part of a bigger picture can reveal early warning signs and help prevent future problems—often hiding in plain sight.
By: Kim Townsend Master Beekeeper, Master Gardener - Owner and Chief Bee Wranger at Texas Swarm Troopers Though hard to imagine, would you believe that there are actually folks who have never seen a swarm of bees in “real” life? Sad,...
Navigating Bait Traps By: James Elam URGENT SWARM NOTICE!! NOW until Summer, 2021 12:00 PM CST Thousands or tens of thousands of bees are soon to be on the move as SPRING IS ON ITS WAY! These swarms will temporarily...
BY TERRY WRIGHT President Caddo Trace Beekeepers Association Board of Directors - Texas Honey Bee Education Association Mead is an alcoholic beverage that is made from fermenting honey with yeast. It is actually in a class of its own, but...
What’s a bee to do? Living in a house with 45,000-60,000 of your sisters—wing to wing, antenna to antenna—packed in like... well, bees! This can really generate some heat!
Wonky comb, crooked, off-center, askew—no matter what you call it, comb that doesn’t follow the correct path can be a real pain. Common causes include uneven hives, weak colonies, excess frame spacing, and unwaxed foundation. When this happens, sometimes just scraping it off, rewaxing the frames, and letting the bees start over is the best way to fix it.
At some point in your beekeeping journey, moving a hive (or hives) will be necessary. Here are some tips to help make it a smooth – stress free event. By: Chari Elam Long distance move (beyond your property) Prepare the...
I caught a little swarm in December and now an early spring swarm on January 18. It’s kind of unusual behavior, as most bees only swarm in spring or when resources are plenty. “Swarming” is how bees reproduce. A successful...
Weather can significantly affect honey bee colonies, from rain and wind limiting foraging to heat and humidity stressing hive conditions. Bees respond by adjusting behavior and airflow, but prolonged bad weather or extreme conditions can reduce honey production and strain colony resources.
I'm sure you've wondered, Is all this feeding really that necessary? The answer: It kind of is! Feeding is one of the most critical elements to get right. Although populations will naturally decline due to the season, our bees are still raising baby bees needed to bring in a fall nectar flow.
1. With warmer Decembers you can expect many hives have maintained small amounts of brood all winter! Now that the days are growing longer in January, expect to see slowly increasing amounts of brood through January. As a result, continue...
Quick answer: Spring is generally preferable for requeening but with the right approach anytime from April to September can be successful.
Got a weak hive? Don't give up too soon. A little brood, a few young bees, proper mite control, and good nutrition can often turn a struggling colony around.
Healthy winter bees are made in the fall. When natural pollen and nectar are limited, strategic feeding of both protein and carbohydrates helps colonies build strong winter populations with the food reserves they need to survive and thrive until spring.
