A Practical Approach To Hive Inspections: What To Look For And When To Take Action
Ever open your hive and feel totally lost by what you’re seeing? Don’t worry—we’ve all been there. Hive inspections don’t have to be complicated, and with a little focus and the right tools, even a five- to seven-minute check can be incredibly effective.
Keep It Simple
Whether it’s a quick peek or a deep dive, inspections should be intentional. Be prepared with your smoker, tools, spare boxes and frames, pest traps and treatments, and a plan. Get in, assess what’s needed, and get out.
Two Types of Hive Inspections
· Hive Check (Every two weeks, except in winter)
Pull just a few frames to verify:
o Queen is laying (eggs or larvae present)
o Resources are adequate (nectar, honey, pollen)
**If something’s off, escalate to a full inspection.
· Full Hive Inspection (typically four times per year)
Do these in February (before spring population explosion), April/May (before supering), July/August (after honey flow and pulling supers off), and October/November (late fall going into winter) to:
o Assess queen quality, brood pattern, and population
o Check for pests (Varroa, SHB) and disease
o Adjust space (add/reduce boxes)
o Requeen or split if needed
o Perform mite testing and treat if necessary
What to Look For
During any inspection, check for:
- A growing or decreasing population (depending on the time of year)
- Eggs, larvae, and capped brood (queen is laying)
- Healthy brood (wet larvae = well fed)
- Frames of honey and pollen (stores)
- Good brood pattern (solid, not spotty)
- Signs of pests or disease
- Enough (but not too much) space
Common Issues and What to Do
- No nectar and hive is light? Feed immediately.
- Running out of space in a single deep? Add another brood box or a medium box/super (depending on time of year and configuration desired).
- Double deep out of space? Split the hive or add a honey super (time of year dependent).
- Seeing mites or poor brood? Test for Varroa mites and treat if necessary. Requeen if needed.
Space
One of the most overlooked aspects of hive management is space. Too much or too little can lead to swarming or pests.
Use this rough estimate of an appropriate bee-to-box ratio as a guide to what you should see:
- Jan: 5+ frames of bees
- Mar: 8+ frames
- May: 14+ frames
- Nov: 12+ frames
Too few bees for the space? Reduce boxes or combine colonies.
Too many bees? Split or add boxes depending on the time of year.
Helpful Inspection Tips
- Run 9 frames in a 10-frame box for easier maneuverability.
- Upon starting an inspection, remove an outer honey frame first to allow for more room to work.
- Work one frame at a time.
- Scan for the queen early—if you see her, be gentle!
- If something looks off, snap a photo and note the frame.
- Save your grumpiest hive for last! Take my word for it.
Most Important of All
If you see a problem and you don’t know what to do, utilize our resources (do your own research) or ask for help. Your bees will show you what they need; it’s your job to listen and act.