Years 2 & 3 Hive Tasks

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.

Monitor water source

• 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.

Requeen if neccesary

• 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.