WHAT SHOULD I BEE DOING IN MAY 2020

So far the month has been pretty nice weather-wise. A long spring again with less cold then last year. Although we have had a few set backs and a streak of frosty days last week, the bees have been building up nicely. Dandelions are still going strong in Western, WI and the fruit trees started about a week ago. Wild plum, cherries, apples and wild lilac. Spring is here and the bees know it. Pollen and fresh nectar are abundant in the landscape and the temps are about to HEat up. Do you know what that means? Nectar explosion!

WHAT ARE THE BEES DOING IN MAY?

With all these resources present, bees are starting to think about the naughty but beautiful and advantageous s-word. Swarming! If you have a strong, populated colony that overwintered, it already has been or will be thinking of hitting the trees. Remember, this is the beehives natural urge to reproduce. Drones are being reared, the queen has laid up most of the frames with brood and the spring turn over of bees has come and gone. They raise numerous queen cells hoping for the best results. Meanwhile, the scout bees are out searching for a new home. On a nice, sunny, warm day, the old mama leaves with half the workers and her daughter takes over after stabbing her would be sisters to take reign of the hive.

WHAT IS THE BEEKEEPER DOING IN MAY?

If you have a hive that wintered, keep on top of the swarming impulse I mentioned. This spring is very different than last year in that the swarming impulse was not as strong as it is now. The rain will stop tonight and the sun will come out tomorrow. Go check your hives. Lift the top brood box and look between the boxes. If you see them starting cells, do something. You can make more bees by doing a split with their cell, you can crush all queen cells(make sure you check for eggs before you do this!) and add supers if you want to wait for a Beez Kneez queen cell next weekend or the 31st of May. Or make multiple splits if you have the inclination and the equipment to do so. This part of beekeeping is really addictive for me. Making more bees and raising queens is so rewarding and you can get really good results if you do it right! I would recommend reading this article written by my friend Dr. Meghan Milbrath on swarms. Also, read back to my blog post from May 2019. It lays out how to do a split and talks about other management you should be doing in May. And I would recommend doing a mite check. Colonies are supposed to have low mite counts in the spring but I have had some surprise high numbers already. You have to stay on top of this…hence why I add a drone comb as early as possible. In the photo above you can see one I removed a few days ago that is ripe and needs to be removed and replaced, along with all the mites inside of it.

If you are getting a new hive in a few weeks from me or someone else, you should be making sure your equipment is prepped and ready to go. Frames built, boxes painted, all the items you need to make sure the bees will be happy in their new home. Your goal with this new hive is to get that comb drawn and full of resources to make it through next winter. You might make a honey crop if we have a good year so also have your queen excluders and supers ready just in case! I have been working hard to get queens ready for the nucs I am selling and the hives I will be splitting. I also started teaching Camp Beez Kneez COVID- Style so my life is a bit chaotic right now. If you try and reach me and it takes a few days, know that I am trying to get back to you as soon as I can. May and June are crucial months for getting your bees set up right. So put it in the hard work now so you can go swimming in July!