THINGS TO DO IN SPRING
Rapid examination.
On the first mild day in early March carry out a quick examination for the following. You should not have the hive open for more than 5 minutes.
1. Compare the activity shown by the bees of each hive. Briefly lift the crown board of inactive ones to check that they are still alive. If not close up the hive to prevent robbing.
2. If they are active, is pollen coming in? If not, suspect queenlessness, but there is little you can do about it until the weather warms up.
3. Are there an undue number of dead bees in front of the hive? If so, suspect starvation, Nosema or Acarine. On the other hand, if the dead bees still have pollen on their legs, it may be due to a rapid change in temperature.
4. Are there large pieces of wax outside the hive? If so, did you remember to place a mouse guard over the entrance? If not, and the colony is still alive chase the mouse out and place a mouse guard over the entrance. Then feed the colony.
5. Are there dead larvae outside which are partly chewed? If so, your colony could be starving. Feed urgently whatever the weather.
6. Are there mouldy pollen pellets outside the hive? Take a closer look, it could be chalk brood. If its pollen then the colony is expanding on to combs it has not occupied during the winter – a good sign.
7. Are there bees trembling by the hive entrance? It could be Acarine or Paralysis.
8. IF ANY COLONIES SHOW SYMPTOMS INDICATED IN 3OR 7, then take a sample of adult bees for analysis. Send it to your branch microscopist or to the NBU.
9. Take off the crown board, keeping as many frames covered as possible. Examine one central frame and one end frame. Make a judgement on the adequacy of their food stores. If in any doubt, assume the worst. If they are all short of food then feed 5lts. of sugar syrup.
