Summer Honey

What is happening in your beehive in January?

The queen’s egg production is at its peak, maintaining a large brood nest and bee numbers. The numerical strength of your hive will peak over Summer. Inspect hives every three weeks for health issues.

You can collect a honey surplus if available. Only if required, provide bees with space to build more wax comb and collect nectar (add a super). Watch weather forecasts for heat waves. Full shade is recommended during heat waves

Feed your bees as required. It might seem strange to talk about feeding bees in Summer, but honey production has fluctuated this season. Check food reserves in your beehive. Is there pollen stored in the comb as bee bread? Is there a surplus of nectar and honey in the comb? If not, then you will need to feed your bees to get them through the dearth.

Varroa Sampling. January 31, 2023 is the deadline for Round One varroa sampling in South Australia requested by PIRSA. Round Two ends on April 30. Varroa sampling of hives gives PIRSA and the industry confidence that SA is free of the varroa mite. It protects beekeeping businesses and pollination-dependent industries. Visual inspection is not enough as varroa mites are difficult to see on adult honeybees – they are found under abdominal segments. You can get your free Varroa Sampling Kit from PIRSA offices around South Australia. Not sure how to sample your hive?

Read the guidelines for South Australia Varroa Sampling method.

For 1 to 19 hives.

Guidelines_alcohol_wash_sampling_for_beekeepers_with_up_1-19_hives.pdf

Download PDF • 184KB

For 20 or more hives.

Guidelines_alcohol_wash_sampling_for_commercial_apiarists_with_20_or_more_hives.pdf

Download PDF • 190KB

All the best with your bees.