The Bee Supply Monthly

Winter is often a worrisome time for beekeepers. Each new cold front makes us wonder if our bees have enough food, if they are warm enough, if there are enough bees in our hives, what else we can do to help them—and the list goes on.

Moving beehives can be challenging but is sometimes necessary. There are three main scenarios: moving a hive a few feet for maintenance, relocating it 100 feet away, or moving it over half a mile. Watch as Blake shows us the simple steps needed to move bees successfully.

Do you have a hive or hives that have ended up in the wrong place? It could be that they are in too much shade and some afternoon sun would be helpful during the cold winter months. Taking advantage of this cooler weather can actually be a huge benefit to both you and the bees you are moving!

For most of us, cold weather is inevitable at some point over winter. If you are concerned about what to do for your bees when cold weather is coming rest assured, even if snow is being predicted, bees tend to handle cold weather quite well. If a cold front moves in with a rapid drop in temperatures, there is nothing at all you need to do for your bees beyond some minor comfort measures.

In a recent discussion, experts explored the emergence of the Yellow-Legged Hornet (Vespa velutina) in Georgia, which poses a significant threat to honeybee populations.

With all the talk about overwintering our bees, have you thought about overwintering drawn comb frames and equipment? Whether it’s hive boxes, honey supers, or frames from a dead hive or surplus drawn comb from combining hives, storing them for future use effectively and efficiently can be a challenge depending on how many you have.