Summer Beekeeping Management Experience and Precautions
In summer, the colony strength of bee colonies is easily reduced, and there are many reasons, mainly: first, the nights are short and the days are long, the temperature difference between day and night is relatively small, and the daytime temperature is relatively high; second, the lack of nectar sources lasts for 2 to 3 months, which easily causes the queen bee to stop laying eggs; third, attacks by hornets, toads, and other pests as well as pesticide poisoning, etc., easily cause the bee colony to become extremely weakened. In order to help the bees safely pass through the hot summer, the following work should be done well.
1. Site selection
In summer, bee colonies should be placed under ventilated tree shade, close to a place with a clean water source. Set up hive stands with a height of 50 to 80 cm to prevent rainwater from invading the hive. Around the hive stands, ant-killing agents such as Mieyiwei can be scattered to prevent ant invasion.
2. Replace the queen bee
To prevent the queen bee from aging and affecting egg laying, from April to May each year, more than 80% of the queen bees in the bee colonies of the entire apiary should be replaced with new queen bees cultivated in that year.
3. Leave enough feed
In addition to leaving 2 to 3 frames of honeycombs and one frame of pollen comb in each colony's hive, 2 to 3 frames of capped honeycombs and 1 to 2 frames of pollen combs should also be stored for each colony, so that bee colonies short of feed can be supplied at any time.
4. Stimulative feeding
Because summer lacks nectar and pollen sources, the queen bee's egg laying is affected. Excess honeycombs should be removed in time, and stimulative feeding should be carried out at the appropriate time.
5. Prevent and eliminate enemies and pests
Actively catch and kill, or trap and kill, enemies and pests such as hornets and toads. Prevent pesticide poisoning to avoid economic losses.