Seasonal Management of Honey Bees.pptx

Honey bees

1. Seasonal Management of Honey Bees Dr.Muneer Ahmad Sofi Entomology SKUAST-K

2. Nectar and Pollen are not available to bees throughout the year. Different seasons in a year with great varying weather Conditions and weather at times may be hard for bees. In order to keep the colony in strong condition, various manipulative operations are necessary so that maximum foragers are available for honey flow season . Why Seasonal Management ?

3. All efforts should be made to add to the comports of Bees Always Fallow Golden Principle

4. Colonies should be Examined on a bright warm and calm day to assess(tempt.4.4 ) Condition of colony working of the queen Amount of brood present Honey and pollen store Cleaning bottom board debris accumulated during winter Spring Management At onset of spring the colonies emerge in considerably weak condition

5. Cleaning Winter Hive

6. Hive sun Drying

7. Apis mellifera on Mustard

8. Simulative feeding sugar syrup (30-40%) along [email protected] 5 lit sugar syrup.It will help the colony to rear healthy brood. Examination should be done carefully and quickly to avoid robbing. Entrances should be reduced to avoid robbing. Early Spring

9. It is a normal practice with the beekeepers. The feeding enhance brood rearing and the colonies start with advantage in the beginning of the season. such colonies grow in strength and put forth large foraging force to avail the surplus flow. This feeding boosts the morales of the colony to rear more brood . Stimulative feeding

10. If queen is not working satisfactorily, replace the queen at the earliest. Below average colonies may be helped by giving one or two capped brood from strong colonies. Avoid expanding the brood nest because it gets chilled.

11. Drawn combs are added as queen starts laying vigorously. Congestion in the colony must be avoided by providing super to a colony. If needed second super should be given in between 1 st super and brood. Queen excluder should be placed between brood and super chamber. Late spring

12. Extraction of uncapped honey should be avoided because of high moisture. Improve ventilation of the colony to provide cluster of bees at entrance.

13. Swarming is a method of reproduction in which a part of the colony migrates to a new site to make a new colony . Swarming:-

14. Provide all comport to the colony. Ventilation should be increased by widening the entrance. Over crowding should be reduced by adding drawn combs Prevention:-

15. Older queen should be removed to reduce swarming chances. Honey should be extracted in time. Trimming/Clip the wings of the queen to the extent of 1/3 rd.

16. QUEEN GATE

17. Avoid bloodlessness in colonies and stimulate them to rear brood. Keep the colonies in strong position hence avoid enemies attack. Keep adequate potable water near the apiary. Summer Management Prevent Absconding

18. Absconded Wall Colony

19. Queen cage

20. Keep Hive on Stand

21. Fumigation with 65% formic acid @ 5ml per colony in a vial for 14 days Frequent Examination should be avoided . Colonies should be shifted to a place with thick shade . Ventilation of colonies should be ensured.

22. Busy in Her Work

23. Appropriate management of colonies in autumn is the key to successful wintering. Colonies Should be migrated to hill areas to avail rich flow of Plectranthus . Wasp Attack is prominent in this season. Wasp nests should be destroyed Autumn Management

24. Monofloral Honey

25. Bee hives Should be regularly cleaned to maintain hygiene. Regular Examination and constant vigilance to check robbing. Sugar syrup in higher conc.(60-70%) should be given as manipulative feeding. Formic acid treatment should be given to check varroa mite .

26. Unite the weaker colonies and not to allow unreliable colonies to enter winter Leave enough stores in the colony for over wintering.

27. It is required during manipulations of a colony.For hiving a swarm, some food reserves are needed for the swarm to start with. While uniting the colonies, Queen rearing colonies need continuous feeding . Manipulative Feeding :-

28. Winter Management

29. weak colonies should be united with strong colonies before insulation. All cracks, crevices and holes other than Entrance should be plugged. The direction of hives should never be facing to north to avoid winds entering into the hive. Winter Management

30. Feeding should be given in the form of candies if stores are not found. Bee colonies can be helped to overwinter by saving their energy in raising nest temperature by Insulation .

31. Proper insulation Can reduce colony loss from 40%- 20%.

32. Winter Packing Material

33. Chopped Dry grass, wood shaving, Saw dust, Dry leaves, Rice straw are handy packing material . Care should be taken that packing material should not be moist since moisture makes them poor insulators . Packing material can be kept in position around the hive with pieces of gunny bags.

34. Thermocole as packing material

35. Isolation of infected colonies & their destruction. Maintain Strong & vigrous colonies . To avoid over crowding of bees and Exchanging of brood. To avoid migration of infected colonies. Inspection of brood combs at regular intervals. Feed Terramycin 0.25-0.4g in 5 lit. Sugar syrup Disinfect bee equipment by soaking in formalin for 24 hours. Prevent Spread of Diseases

36. Month Operations January Give feed in the form of candies, Entrance narrowed, Hives should be kept above ground. February March Inspection of colonies, Remove winter packing, give simulative feeding April Prevent Swarming, Ensure proper cleaning, Make division if required, Give super and raise new queen May June Extraction of honey, Change queen. July Migrate the colonies to hills, give Simulative feeding to colonies, check the strength, Prevent absconding. August September Control Wasp by flappin,Check robbing, apply Formic acid. October Remove Super & extract honey . November Unite weak colonies with strong ones, Give feed for winter December Give winter packing to colonies Apiculture Calendar for Kashmir

37. THANKS