The Varroa population doubles every three weeks between springtime and the onset of the broodless period. This vicious cycle increases the population of mites almost all year long. They hold on until they find their next cell to breed in. Once the bee brood has hatched, the Varroa Mites will cling onto the bees like ticks on a dog.
While the Varroa Mites are sealed inside the cells, they are hard to kill. These small mites feed off of the fat of your brood and by doing so they can transmit up to 20 different diseases to your colony. Once the cells are sealed, the mites will start laying their eggs. The mites sneak into the brood cells and hide underneath the brood. Varroa Mites reproduce inside of capped brood cells. Just briskly lift the lid, make sure they have enough food, and then close it and place the hive cover back on It is that simple. So just be aware of what is going on inside your hive. Now, how sad would that be if you could salvage your hive simply by adding a little more fondant or a few more grease patties? This is important.Īnd the reason for that is that most hives are lost in the winter because of freezing and starvation. If you have a day that is above 40 degrees Fahrenheit then you should quickly raise the lid to the hive just to make sure that your bees food supply isnt running low. When wintering bees, you need to pretty well leave them be.īut there is one exception. You shouldnt go outside and go through your bees in the winter. By this time, the queen has begun laying eggs, meaning there are more mouths to feed. By going out to rediscover their environment, they burn through even more food.
Sometimes, the sun comes out, and the colony starts to exercise those wings. In fact, many beekeepers lose their colonies at the beginning of spring. The more severe the winter, the longer they have to remain indoors.Įven when the landscape starts to thaw out, the blooms are still not available to provide nutrition for our little workers. In addition to that, the severity of the winter will also determine how much honey theyll need. The size of the colony will determine how much honey they need. Stores can be checked by weighing the box. Additionally, the pantry has to be adequately stocked for the bees to make it through the winter.Īlthough you will need to keep an eye on the colony and check on them from time to time, you want to minimize the number of times you need to open the hive. You have to make sure the mite count is way down. Once July is over, you really need to get going. Preparation for winterizing your beehives begins early.
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