Dewey M. Caron Emeritus Professor UD Affiliate Professor, OSU
[email protected]
Slide 2
Looking at exterior hefting the hive (perhaps non-Langstroth
bee haver/hosting)
Slide 3
Looking at top/in top box & between boxes
Slide 4
Looking at exterior hefting the hive (perhaps non-Langstroth
bee haver/hosting) Looking at top/in top box & between boxes
Removing frames (inspecting/managing )
Slide 5
Veil always Bee tight protective clothing sleeve/pant leg tie -
downs Gloves (None here) Boots FIND YOUR INDIVIDUAL COMFORT LEVEL
What
Slide 6
Smoker/spray Hive tool Other aids Never open a colony without a
functioning smoker/sugar spray, hive tool & a Secure veil.
Beekeepers should feel comfortable in what they wear and use in
their inspections -- concentrate on what they are seeing and doing
rather than worrying about being stung.
Slide 7
Smoker a tool Practice makes perfect Its the smart use not the
fuel that makes it a useful tool Ditto hive tool indispensable tool
that (1) tends to disperse bees, driving them away from the hands
(2) causes some of the bees to take flight but stimulates others to
gorge on honey and (3) masks odors, which helps counter the alarm
chemical
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1 2 3 1
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4 5 6 Photo essay L. Connor 4
Slide 10
timely (when needed not excessively) when properly dressed warm
dry, windless days middle of day 10 AM- 2 PM during nectar flow
(bees busy) when colonies smaller in size in supers only (summer)
to accomplish some purpose
Slide 11
Stand at side of colony Open < 5 10 minutes avoid robbing if
likely use manipulating cloth to cover exposed frames consider
tools like frame lifter listen to bees
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1 2 3
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45 6
Slide 15
Hold frame securely view other side by flip of frame Hold frame
comfortably over open colony Note gloves simple household chore
gloves chore gloves
Slide 16
Properly dressed, smoking functioning properly, a reason to
inspect?
Slide 17
For a reason some intensively care for colonies others
extensively spring & fall basic insp + X times to control
swarming to super to harvest to overwinter successfully to control
pests including mites
Slide 18
Sealed brood Healthy brood Capped honey cells Eggs Queen
cups/no cells Condition of cells Condition of frames Change from
last insp Management needed
Slide 19
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IDENTIFY WITH APPROPRIATE LETTER: Capped Brood; Drone Brood;
Honey; Nectar; Pollen (likely position); Eggs (or where to look);
Queen Cups/Cells. CBCB DB H Q Cups CB H P
Slide 21
IS BROOD HEALTHY? IS BROOD PATTERN OK? IS COLONY QUEENRIGHT?
CBCB DB H CB H P
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What if there are NO EGGS present no queen present new
virgin/newly mated queen present not laying eggs yet look on
another frame this one filled with cells of mostly capped brood end
of season or drought conditions or pollen resources no longer
available bees preparing to abscond (or swarm) X
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What if no pollen evident? no young brood to stimulate pollen
foraging numbers of cells filled with fresh nectar no space look on
another frame especially frame at edge of brood sphere pollen
dearth or drought or heat spell bees preparing to abscond (or
swarm) X
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Slide 28
Can you find the queen below? Marked queens easier to find -
when necessary L. Connor photos YES NO