By: Ann Harman
This article originally appeared in the Autumn 2018 issue of BEEKeeping Your First Three Years
• August is important for Varroa control!
• Harvest honey by early August, depending on climate, nectar flow and mite treatments.
• Monitor mite levels. If over three mites per 100 bees, take action!
• If using Varroa treatments, read the label and follow temperature guidelines.
• If in small hive beetle areas, when removing supers, extract immediately.
• In SHB areas do not put wet supers back on hives for bees to clean.
• Put wet supers well away from hives for a few hours for bees to clean.
• Store supers so all sides of the frames are exposed to light and air.
• Wax moth is attracted to comb that has been used for brood.
• Protect stored supers from mice.
• Control small hive beetles in colonies.
• Bees will use between one to two gallons of water during hot Summer days. Monitor water source.
• Maintain good ventilation.
• Keep grass and weeds cut in beeyard to give bees easy flight.
• Protect yourself from ticks!
• Robbing can be a problem, especially during a dearth of blossoms.
• Feed all hives at once to prevent robbing and feed inside hives.
• Requeen if necessary.
• Combine a weak colony with a strong one and eliminate weak hive queen.
• Plan for Winter. Begin feeding 2:1 sugar syrup in September, depending on climate.