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September is the first month of autumn. At this time, it is still quite warm outside, but the approach of the first cold weather is already felt. In September, bees gradually begin to prepare their hives for wintering. As a rule, in August, beekeepers assess the condition of families, carry out preventive treatment for diseases and give additional food. By the first days of September, insect feeding should be completed.
What work is carried out with bees in August
The work in the apiary after the honey pumping in August is of great importance. During this period of time, they carry out a large amount of work to prepare bee colonies for wintering, as a result of which the insects will not be weakened next year and will be able to fully start working. In August, beekeepers should assess the condition of the families, pump out honey, and also start feeding the insects with sugar syrup as a top dressing. In addition, it is necessary to identify theft and, if any, promptly prevent it. These works must be completed by the end of the month.
Assessment of the state of bee colonies
In August, it is necessary to conduct a planned audit. It is recommended to choose a sunny and calm day for the revision. During the inspection, the beekeeper must:
- assess the strength of the bee colony;
- check the amount of forage reserves for the winter.
During the inspection of bee colonies, half of the honeycomb frames are removed. There should be 2-3 full-fledged frames, incomplete and damaged ones must be removed. If you leave the surplus in the hives, then they will eventually begin to become moldy, and rodents may appear. Those combs that are covered with insects should be left.
Pumping honey
Also in August it is necessary to pump out honey. During the pumping out of the finished product, you will need:
- choose a bright room for work;
- the room should not be accessible to bees and wasps.
The algorithm of actions is as follows:
- Gently open the honeycomb to remove the wax. A knife or fork is suitable for these purposes.
- The prepared frames are sent to the honey extractor. To maximize the yield of honey, it is necessary to turn the frames several times.
- The next step is to pour the finished product through a sieve into a clean container.
Some beekeepers advise to let the honey settle for 2-3 days, then remove wax particles and foam, only then pour the honey into containers for further storage.
How and what to feed the bees in August
Insects in the apiary at the end of August must be additionally fed. As a top dressing, sugar syrup is used, which is preliminarily diluted with clean boiled water in equal proportions. The finished syrup is poured into wooden feeders, which are installed in the hives.It is recommended to give about 0.5-1 liters of the finished product for each family.
Milk can be used as a protein supplement. To stimulate growth, add tinctures based on needles, wormwood, garlic and yarrow. On an industrial scale, you can use special additives.
Fight against theft
Many beekeepers compare the stealing of bees to a fire. Preventing theft is fairly easy if you take preventive measures. The most important thing is to eliminate all gaps in the hive so that the bees are not tempted by the smell of nectar, while the size of the entrance is reduced to such an extent that one individual can fly into it.
It is recommended to add sugar syrup and see families in the evening. All work should be carried out as quickly as possible, while it is impossible to leave spots of syrup and honey next to the hive.
Treatment of bees in August
Caring for bees in August involves treating insects from possible diseases. The most common disease is a tick attack on bee colonies. In August, during the preparation of insects for wintering, it is recommended to use preparations that will rid the bees of the mite. Timely preventive measures help to protect the family, prevent the number of deaths in winter.
Preventive treatment of bees in August
The works at the apiary in August include not only the examination of bee colonies and the introduction of feeding, but also preventive measures to prevent diseases. It is important to understand that the mite loves moisture, which is why it is recommended to raise the hives on special supports 50 cm high.
For preventive purposes, it is recommended to treat insects from the first days of August for 30 days. Thanks to such manipulations, bees can be removed from ticks by almost 90%.
Reduction of bee nests in August
Before starting to feed the bees in August, it is recommended to pre-cut the nests. To do this, the beekeeper must remove honeycomb frames from the bee hive that are not occupied by insects. The first step is to remove the frames that are to be discarded. It is important to understand that the frames left should be half filled with honey or 2/3 full. Having such reserves for the winter, the family will not die of hunger. The honey should be located at the point where the insects are located.
Is it possible to put foundation in August
As a rule, honey bees are put to bees in the spring, when gardens and dandelions begin to bloom. At this time, the combs do not deform from the heat, the swarming state of insects did not occur, as a result of which the probability of converting bee cells into drone cells is minimal.
An important condition is the presence of a bribe, and bringing fresh pollen to the hive. It is important to understand that sugar syrup cannot solve this problem. Without a bribe, insects will not rebuild the foundation.
Apiary work in September
The importance of working with bees in September is due to the fact that during this period of time insects begin to prepare for wintering. The work carried out in the apiary can be conditionally divided into several stages:
- Harvesting and providing bee colonies with the necessary amount of feeding for the winter.
- If insects hibernate outside, it is necessary to pre-insulate the hives.
- In addition, it is necessary to carefully examine the bees and track the available theft in the apiary.
Only after these works are carried out, it is possible to send insects for the winter.
Do bees collect honey in September
In September, honey collection stops, the process of preparation for wintering begins. During this period, the beekeepers extract most of the honey, leaving a few frames half full. As a top dressing, insects receive sugar syrup, which they process throughout September.If bees did not collect honey before September, or it was completely extracted, there is a possibility that the family will die due to lack of food.
How much brood should there be in September
Bee colonies that do not yet have brood by the end of August, or young queen bees have just started laying eggs, without joining other stronger colonies will remain very weak by the winter. Brood quantity in September must be at least one frame of all ages. It is recommended to inspect each frame in advance and determine the quality and quantity of honey. White combs, in which there was no brood, are removed.
Can bees swarm in September
As practice shows, swarming is possible in September. There are a large number of reasons for swarming, the most important is the absence or death of the queen bee. In addition, the place where honey is collected can be treated with chemicals, which scares away insects and makes you go in search of a suitable place. Another reason why insects can begin to swarm is the absence of a reservoir in the immediate vicinity of the apiary.
Bee care in September
As practice shows, it is quite difficult to care for insects. In the autumn period of time, it is recommended to carry out care up to 6 times, you should not disturb the bees quite often.
Insect care includes:
- providing feed stocks;
- warming hives;
- prevention of disease;
- preparation for wintering;
- maintaining a suitable temperature regime.
With proper care, you can count on a strong bee colony that will yield a large amount of honey.
Inspection of bee colonies in September
It is recommended to examine all bee colonies in September to determine their strength. If during the examination weak unproductive families are identified, then they should be discarded. It is also worth identifying those families that need to be united with stronger ones. If sick insects are found, it is recommended to immediately start treatment, since there is a high probability of losing the whole family.
Feeding bees in September
Up to 3 kg of honey should be left for each bee lane. Practice shows that 8 cased frames require 25 kg of summer honey. All work must be completed before September 5th, otherwise the bees will not have time to process the syrup into honey.
Particular importance must be attached not only to the quantity, but also to the quality of the honey used. A great option is a light honey variety. It is not recommended to use varieties that crystallize quickly. In addition, insects are given sugar syrup and bee bread.
Removal of honeydew honey
When assembling bee nests in September, it is recommended to remove honeydew honey. As a rule, such honey has a dark brown hue, it tastes like spoiled caramel, has a thick consistency. Insects practically do not assimilate such honey and in most cases die. When removing honeycomb frames, it is recommended to get rid of such honey first.
Bee processing
At the end of September, bees are treated for varroatosis. It is recommended to carry out the treatment early in the morning, before the bees start flying. For these purposes, you can use Vetfor paper strips. The work is carried out as follows:
- Close the entrance.
- Fix the strip to special holders.
- Place it in the middle of the hive, in the hole between the frames.
You can observe the result literally in 30-40 minutes. Almost 80% of the ticks will crumble, the rest will die within 12 hours.
Formation of hives in September
The formation of bees at the end of September involves the unification of several families:
- All work must be carried out before the 18th or by the deadline before September 20th, in the evening.
- Families are formed in good weather.
- Before uniting several families, it is recommended to pre-feed the insects.
- It is recommended to place the queen of the hive under the cap for a while.
- Weak families must be united with a strong swarm.
It is important to understand that sick bee colonies cannot be united.
Why do bees fly in the fall
Scientists believe that the autumn gathering of insects is due to inadequate living conditions. If the bees begin to leave the hives in September, then these may be the following reasons:
- the death of the queen bee - the brood did not appear, the tired bees begin to gather;
- herbicides - harmful chemicals that are used to treat fields, as a result of which bees begin to look for a cleaner place to live;
- the nest is located incorrectly - for example, it is constantly hot in the hive or, on the contrary, cold, in addition, the case may lie in a reservoir that is quite far away;
- low quality material was used in the manufacture of the nest;
- beekeepers feed insects, as a result of which the bees do not have enough space to equip a common nest;
- constant transport of the swarm from one place to another.
If the bees begin to swarm and prepare for the rally, then it is necessary to find out the reason for this and immediately eliminate it.
Working with hives in an apiary in September
Insulation works are carried out at the apiary in September. If the nest does not occupy the entire space, then the sides of the case should be covered with boards. As a result, the impact of cold winds will be smoothed out. Insulation materials, dry moss are laid in the existing cracks, and finally they are sealed with a special pillow. If you plan to use hay or any other dry grass for insulation, then you should make sure that there are no seeds.
Conclusion
In September, bees begin the process of preparing for wintering, which is why it is so important to give them due attention in this period of time. Beekeepers must necessarily examine families, identify infected and weakened individuals. They need to be cured and later reunited with a strong family. In addition, it will be necessary to process the insects and provide them with the necessary amount of food, which will allow the bees to survive the winter fully and without loss.
