As July sizzles into August with continued hot , teetotal condition , some beekeepers are finding an copiousness ofhoney . paired what one might intend — at least in some areas — ambrosia flow has keep Honey bee hard at work .
“ In some states , bees and plants need wet to make love , ” explained Dave Shenefield , owner of Clover Blossom Honey in northern Indiana . “ But in our part of Indiana , generally a drought will give you the biggest harvest . ”
Shenefield explained that this class ’s atmospheric condition condition are like to 1988 , when his honey harvest was plentiful . However , 1989 was among his worst honey long time — flora simply were n’t as generative in the year following the drought .
Drought Extremes
Conditions DoS to state and even within states vary as apiculturist equate the productivity of their hives . For good example , Janet Hart , central regional film director of the Illinois Beekeepers Association , knows the ironical conditions are more extreme in the southern part of Illinois than the sleep of the state .
“ From what I understand , bee are working some multifariousness of soy andred clover , ” Hart says . “ In our area , red clover is not something bees typically wreak ; the flush is too rich for the bee ’s proboscis . I ’ve heard that bee are working the red trefoil this year because the ambrosia metro has been shortened by the drouth condition . ”
In contrast , in southern Indiana , where apiculturist Paul Hill runs about 700 hives , spring come early . In a typical class , Hill build his hive up chop-chop by feeding them pollen . Providing pollen advance the tabby to lay eggs , inspiring rapid population ontogenesis . The nectar season is shorter than in northern parts of the body politic so plenty of bee are needed to make honey . Hill typically feeds his Honey bee pollen and sugar syrup while snow is still on the ground .
Hill ’s bees farm honey well in June , but as conditions became drier , production slowed . In southerly Indiana , the bees have also harvested ambrosia from soy — something generally unheard of . As a result of the dry experimental condition , Hill will resort to feed his bees pelf sirup in September with hopes of each hive sustain enough stores to survive the wintertime calendar month .
Honey Harvest
While Shenefield bang beekeepers who have already cease harvesting honey from their hives this time of year , he ’s continued to take reward of his bees productiveness while continuing to observe the hives tight ; he ’s go steady hive that quit making beloved too early and end up starving in September .
When the nectar flow dries up , the bee will be impel to begin consuming their own stored harvest — perhaps earlier than normal .
“ The most of the essence meter is yet to add up , ” Shenefield explains . “ Fall is when the nance starts raising her winter bee — the ones that will keep her alive . If there is nothing come in , the queen ca n’t raise wintertime bees to get her through . ”
Shenefield suggests that beekeepers stay vigilant to beloved production and their bees ’ action . If they come along to be slowing or have n’t get enough dear , it will be necessary to feed them . This could require bucketful - feeding bees with their own honey or provide them with moolah syrup so the poof continues to bring out her winter bee .
New Hives at Risk
Indiana ’s primary apiary inspector , Kathleen Prough , worries that the most vulnerable hives are those started this year . new hives are at peril , peculiarly if the bees have had to tie out coxcomb and gather up pollen and ambrosia , all while the queen start out make the universe .
According to Prough , apiarist with young hives wo n’t have a beloved harvest because of the drouth and will have to flow their nettle rash to help them build a store to live on during the cold of the winter months . She adds that hives start after July 4 this class will involve to be given extra care ; beekeepers should be prepared to pamper these urtication through the fall with extra provender .
Shenefield counselor-at-law maintain more than one hive . A pair of hive offers a beekeeper a way to compare how the bee in each are doing . Plus , a brood box frame , filled with honey , can be harvest from one hive and deal with the other .
Keeping Bees Cool
As much as bees necessitate food supplies , it ’s also significant they have access to H2O to keep the hive ’s interior cool . Hart cautions beekeepers to be aware of where their bees might be getting water system .
“ You do n’t want them collecting water from a neighbour ’s swimming pond , ” she say . “ And they may be collecting more water than common to stick cool . ”
Hart indicate providing body of water sources for bee by placing a piece of Sir Henry Wood under a nearby faucet and allow it dribble . The bees will take the water from there because it ’s the dear source .
Hart also says hives in full sun should be provided with makeshift shade so the bees wo n’t have to ferment as hard to cool the hive . As much as the bees will demand plenty of winter dear stores , they also need urine and shade to survive these uttermost conditions .
