As a beekeeper, the safety and well-being of your hive is important to you. Preempting potential problems is key in successful beekeeping, and avoiding the most common mistakes is essential for your hive’s health. From ill-fitted boxes to unnoticed pest infestations, this article offers ten pitfalls to be aware of as you manage your hive.
1. Don’t Skip Bee Suit Preparation
Being a beekeeper carries a vast array of responsibilities, from how to care for your bees to what steps must be taken to ensure their health. Among the most important pieces of protective gear that you should wear as a beekeeper is a bee suit. Whether you are a novice or experienced beekeeper, it is vital that you take the time to properly prepare your bee suit before venturing out.
The following are some simple preparation tips you should always keep in mind when it comes to your bee suit:
- Check the Seams – thoroughly check the seams of your bee suit to ensure there are no weak spots which a bee might be able to enter through.
- Cleans and Make Repairs – make sure to do any repairs that your bee suit requires so that it is in the best condition possible. Clean the surface of the suit as well to remove dirt and any debris that could be present.
- Check for Wear and Tear – inspect the bee suit for any signs of wear and tear. This can include exposed elastic, frayed material, tears, etc. If there are any damaged areas on the suit, it may be best to replace it with a new one.
By taking the time to ensure your bee suit is prepared properly, you can ensure that you are adequately protected while performing your beekeeping duties. Don’t take chances with the safety and wellbeing of yourself, bees, and the environment by neglecting to properly prepare your bee suit.
2. Don’t Neglect Hive Careful Maintenance
Your HVAC system is one of the most important components of your home and one of the most expensive pieces of equipment you’ll ever purchase. Therefore, ensuring it runs optimally and lasts a long time should be a priority. Here are a few maintenance tips to keep in mind:
- Replace air filters regularly: Dirty air filters can reduce air quality, strain fans and decrease energy efficiency.
- Check air ducts for leaks: Leaking air ducts can cause energy waste and elevated energy costs.
- Schedule preventative maintenance: Regularly cleaning and tweaking the parts of the HVAC system can spot and fix small problems before they become costly.
Regularly inspecting the unit is also key for keeping it running smoothly. If you notice odd smells, you should contact an HVAC technician as soon as possible. This is because odors may indicate something is wrong. Every few months, take the time to clear debris from the outside unit and clean the vents.
Overall, the purpose of regular hive care is to keep your HVAC system working correctly. While not glamorous, preventive maintenance will ensure your HVAC system functions properly and last longer.
3. Bumblebees Need Love Too
Bumblebees are the workhorses of our gardens, and they deserve some extra appreciation. From their loud buzz, chubby bodies and bright colors, these little critters play an important role in our environment and our lives, and yet are often overlooked.
Did you know that, without these fuzzy gardeners to pollinate our flowering plants, many of our fruits, vegetables and ornamental plants would cease to exist? Bumblebees must collect nectar not only for their own sustenance but also for the plants they visit, and thanks to their buzzing wings, they can quickly move from one flower to the next, depositing pollen and giving life to a new generation of plants.
One way to show appreciation to the bees is by creating habitats that are friendly to them! Here are just a few things you can do to help bumblebees thrive:
- Plant a variety of flowers in your garden. Wildflowers can provide a wide array of colors and sizes of flowers that bumblebees love. Include plants that blossom at different times in the season to ensure a steady source of food for the bees.
- Avoid using pesticides. Pesticides kill bees and other beneficial insects, so make sure to choose organic pest-control methods instead.
- Give them a place to nest. Leave patches of bare earth in your garden for bumblebees to create nests, and provide some shelter from the rain and wind.
It doesn’t take much for us to care for our bumblebee friends, but it does make a big difference. They do a lot for us and our environment – show them some appreciation and keep them around for the long run!
4. Know the Technology of Beekeeping
When becoming a beekeeper, understanding the necessary technology is key. Technology can help beginner beekeepers and those with more experience start and maintain hives.
- It is helpful to invest in a beekeeping suit and accessories, such as a bee brush and smoker.
- Beekeepers should also purchase high-quality hive equipment to easily access honey, larvae and other components from the hive.
Urban beekeepers may also want to consider installing electric fencing, honey extractors and an automatic feeding system to simplify and safeguard their operations. Such technology can help to protect hives from intruders, reduce the risk of swarming and simplify the honey extraction process.
Since technology plays an important role in helping beekeepers get the most out of their hives, it is important to keep up to date with the latest advancements. Many beekeepers turn to industry blogs, forums and events to gain access to the best beekeeping technology and tips.
5. The Queen Bee is Always in Charge
In any honeybee colony, the queen is always in charge. Despite her small stature, she is the key to the success of the colony. Here are five ways the queen bee rules the roost:
- She lays eggs: The queen bee is the only bee in the colony that produces eggs. She is responsible for producing hundreds of eggs every day, and each one of them has the potential to carry on the species.
- She directs worker bees: Every decision in a beehive is ultimately made by the queen. She dictates the colony’s behavior and directs the worker bees to the nectar they need to produce honey.
- She selects the males: The queen bee is the only bee to select the male mates for the colony. She must survive and breed with males in order to produce a strong, diverse gene pool for the colony.
She also supervises larvae development and is the ultimate authority when it comes to deciding who stays in the hive and who gets kicked out. The queen is truly the most essential piece in the puzzle of running a successful honeybee colony.
Similar to the queen bee, leadership roles in any business or organization require clear guidance, decisive action and the ability to direct people. To be an effective leader, one must exemplify strength and wisdom. As the queen bee shows, even though it may look like everyone is doing the same work, it’s really the leader who is setting the vision and forging the path.
6. Avoid Reckless Blunders During Hive Inspections
Being drowsy or under the influence of drugs or alcohol can lead to unexpected – and dangerous – hive inspections. You may make a hasty decision or forget to follow key protocols or check for signs of distress. Even worse, if something goes wrong, you could cause irreversible damage to the hives, and by extension, the environment.
No matter how experienced you are, avoid careless mistakes with these tips:
- Be sure to wear protective clothing and equipment, such as a bee suit, gloves, and a veil. This will help safeguard you from getting stung and avoid contamination of the hives.
- Check the vertical and lateral balance of the hives. Utilize specialized tools such as a bee scale, beam scale or j-tool to ensure the beehives are adequately balanced.
- Search for signs of distress, such as bee grubbing, bee robbing, bee sneezing, wax moths, and Varroa mites.
- Monitor the condition of the equipment used. Mismatched supers and frames can cause confusion, weaken the structure, and increase the risk of collapse.
Whether you’re a beginner or advanced beekeeper, hive inspections are an essential part of beekeeping and must be done with care. Remember to take necessary precautions and to stay alert at all times, otherwise you risk running into careless mistakes that can cause great harm.
7. Respect the Bee Space
When it comes to our furry little friends, one of the most important considerations is their comfort and safety. There is an important concept in beekeeping known as the “bee space”, which is the smallest measurable space that bees can comfortably move through. By respecting their space, we can ensure that their colony is healthy and remains so for many years to come.
Why it’s Important: Respect for the bee space is a crucial part of maintaining a healthy bee colony. Bees need to be able to move freely through their environment, in order to access resources, build their hive and protect their young from pests and predators. Even a small disturbance can cause disruption to a bee hive and put the bees at risk.
How to :
- Don’t overfill or overload hives with frames and other equipment
- Be mindful of their entrance and space around the hive
- Make sure to thoroughly inspect hives and equipment before introducing it to the colony
- Check each colony regularly to ensure it is healthy and productive
The beekeeper is the bee’s protector and it is vital to keep the bee space in mind when tending to the hive. It is also important to practice good maintenance habits, such as regularly checking the hive for infestations and diseases. By respecting the bee space, we can help ensure the safety and productivity of the hive, thereby protecting our beloved bees.
8. NEVER Smoke the Hive
The honeybee hive is full of activity and its important to never disturb the buzzing hive. Smoking the hive is a primitive method used to calm the bees and making it easier to extract honey. In some countries, smoking the hive is still acceptable. But is it really safe?
- Smoking becomes dangerous when inexperienced beekeepers inhale the fumes from the smoker, as it may contain carbon monoxide. Long-term inhalation of this toxic gas can cause carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Too much smoke: Excessive use of the smoker can kill the bees. If the smoke gets into the worker bee’s pheromone glands, it can confuse the worker bees and make them unable to effectively communicate with other bees in the hive. This can lead to disorientation and increased aggression.
There are other more advanced and safer beekeeping techniques which beekeepers can use instead of smoking the hive. Techniques like using a bee brush to remove bees from frames, or the introduction of a bee vacuum to remove bees from the hive. These techniques are much more gentle than smoking the hive and generally don’t hurt the bees.
In conclusion, it’s best to steer clear of smoking the hive and opt for the more advanced techniques available by experienced beekeepers. This way, the environment of the beehive stays undisturbed and the bees can continue with their invaluable work.
From beginner to experienced beekeeper, mastering the craft of beekeeping requires sharpening the right skills, the right attitude, and the right knowledge. Avoiding these ten common mistakes will help ensure you have a successful season as you join the ranks of the many honeybee stewards across the country. With these tips in hand, happy beekeeping!