Summer
Summer Dearth
July | August | September
Signs of the Season
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Daytime temperatures above 95°F.
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Sparse flower bloom.
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Low rainfall.
Activity in the Hive
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Brood-rearing declines.
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Bee population declines.
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Varroa population peaks.
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Nurse bees that rear the winter bees are produced.
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Nectar and honey stores decline.
Beekeeper’s Checklist
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[ ] Monitor honey stores; minimum 10 frames per hive.
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[ ] Aggressively feed sugar water if inadequate honey stores.
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[ ] Inspect hives regularly and take quick action to fix problems.
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[ ] Monitor pollen stores; minimum 2 frames per hive.
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[ ] Ensure bees have a nearby, constant water source.
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[ ] Feed pollen patties if inadequate pollen stores.
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[ ] Split hives; final opportunity.
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[ ] Test all hives for varroa monthly and treat as necessary.
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[ ] Replace failing queens; final opportunity for mating.
Potential Problems
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Harvested too much honey – need to feed sugar water.
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Weak hive – combine with a strong hive.
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Failing queen – source new queen or combine with a strong hive.
Decisions / Considerations
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How will I keep varroa levels low now?
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Is the hive strong enough to keep wax moths and hive beetles in check?
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Did I make the right/enough enough splits to help control swarming?
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What do I need to learn to be a better beekeeper next year?