Keeping bees healthy

Keep notes on each hive

For each hive, note the date, weather, queen or egg evidence, brood appearance, food, space, pest results and any action. Set the next check according to what you found. Comparing a colony with its own earlier records is more useful than relying on memory.

Integrated pest management

Integrated pest management, or IPM, means checking pest levels and using suitable methods to keep them under control. These can include resistant bee stock, planned brood breaks and registered treatments. Check pest levels again afterward to see whether the method worked.

Reduce avoidable stress

Maintain access to forage, food and water. Match space to colony strength, inspect with a purpose, and investigate weak colonies before combining them or moving frames. Keep a plan for summer food shortages as well as winter stores.

Keep problems from travelling

Avoid sharing suspect comb or feeding honey of uncertain disease status. Pest control in stored equipment does not automatically disinfect it. If a disease is suspected, get a diagnosis and a cleaning or disposal plan suitable for that organism.

Reduce pesticide exposure

Pesticide exposure can occur while bees forage. Communicate with nearby land managers, follow pollinator-protection directions on any pesticide used, and consider drift, flowering plants and bee activity. Nighttime application alone does not guarantee that a product is safe for pollinators.

Check the conditions before treating

Temperature, brood, honey intended for harvest and the product’s use directions all matter. Follow the label on the actual registered product. Avoid copying a dose, recipe or schedule from an unrelated product or old online post.