May Beekeeping

Summer is coming so anything can happen according to conditions. Plan and prepare for the coming season - everything will happen in the next 3 months so prepare to enjoy it.

Inside the hive
Queen bees will be increasing their egg laying rate to a maximum now. Those that are not should be marked or recorded to be retired and replaced when possible.
If there are any doubts about the quantity of stores, sugar bags can be left on the hive as an insurance against starvation and replenished as required or 50% sugar syrup can be fed. Read our Feeding Honey Bees for more details.
The population of the hive could possibly double over the next month requiring more space so be prepared with the right spare equipment available. The population of Varroa mites could also double so mite drops should be monitored and treatments applied if indicated. Drone brood will now probably be present and queen cells too so swarming is possible in May.

Outside the hive
It is always heart warming to see pollen being brought back home. There is also a lot that can be learned from identifying the pollen loads to determine what flowers the bees are working in your area - local knowledge is important. Drones may also be seen flying on warm sunny days indicating that the breeding and swarming season has started. There will have been a rapid rise in the population of young bees and occasionally large numbers can be seen flying around the hive on nursery flights. Sometimes there can be so many that it seems like a swarm but it can be seen that they are only flying around the hive to learn and map their location.

In the apiary
Now is the time to start preparing the equipment that may be needed in the coming season for brood comb renewal, colony expansion and the possible need for swarm control.
Be prepared for inspections when temperatures are warm enough to do so i.e. above 16C, 60F. It must be warm enough so bees are busy and not stressed.
Concentrate on looking for primed queen cells during inspections if swarming is to be managed.
There are other techniques that can also be applied to reduce the chances of swarming. Try nadiring a hive instead of supering when providing more space for brood with a box of frames and foundation. Try using any of the artificial swarm techniques before the colony prepares to swarm to obviate the need for crisis management later.
Reduce the size of entrances to guard against intruders and secure the roof against the wind if necessary.
Ensure the hive is in good order to be left.
All that is left to do is to ensure any spare equipment is sterilised and stored away.

In the garden
When temperatures are low the opportunities for the bees to forage can be few and far between. Any scouting bees will not fly far in the cold so any suitable flowers in the garden, on their doorstep, can be a real benefit to them.

Any planting for bees is best done in drifts if possible, as in nature, a few plants may not provide the attractant needed for the bees to find them.

In the wild
There are many trees that will be in blossom. The Hawthorn, Horse Chestnut and Sycamore are particularly useful providing lots of nectar and pollen, weather permitting. Extra Shallow boxes can often be filled when standard supers are not so try Extra Shallow for snatch cropping and honeycomb. This can be great way to taste those honeys that only have small nectar flows. Large nectar flows can be expected from Oil Seed Rape fields which start to blossom. If the colony has no other space to store the honey, they may clog or swamp the brood nest causing problems. Experienced beekeepers will always have an eye on the forecasts and the forage to anticipate possible honey flows and the consequent need for space in the hive.

N.B. Remember that every year is different, every locality is different and no two colonies are the same so every hive should be treated as an individual and managed accordingly.