Dewey M. Caron Emeritus Professor UD Affiliate Professor, OSU

 Looking at exterior – hefting the hive (perhaps non-Langstroth – bee haver/hosting)

 Looking at top/in top box & between boxes

 Looking at exterior – hefting the hive (perhaps non-Langstroth – bee haver/hosting)  Looking at top/in top box & between boxes  Removing frames (inspecting/managing )

 Veil – always  Bee tight protective clothing sleeve/pant leg tie - downs  Gloves (None here)  Boots FIND YOUR INDIVIDUAL COMFORT LEVEL What

 Smoker/spray  Hive tool  Other aids Never open a colony without a functioning smoker/sugar spray, hive tool & a Secure veil. Beekeepers should feel comfortable in what they wear and use in their inspections -- concentrate on what they are seeing and doing rather than worrying about being stung.

 Smoker a tool  Practice makes perfect  It’s the smart use – not the fuel that makes it a useful tool  Ditto hive tool indispensable tool that (1) tends to disperse bees, driving them away from the hands (2) causes some of the bees to take flight but stimulates others to gorge on honey and (3) masks odors, which helps counter the alarm chemical

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 timely (when needed not excessively)  when properly dressed  warm dry, windless days  middle of day 10 AM- 2 PM  during nectar flow (bees busy)  when colonies smaller in size  in supers only (summer)  to accomplish some purpose

 Stand at side of colony  Open < 5 – 10 minutes  avoid robbing – if likely use manipulating cloth to cover exposed frames  consider tools like frame lifter  ‘listen’ to bees

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 Hold frame securely – view other side by flip of frame Hold frame comfortably over open colony Note gloves – simple household chore gloves chore gloves

Properly dressed, smoking functioning properly, a reason to inspect?

 For a reason – some intensively care for colonies others extensively  spring & fall basic insp + X times  to control swarming  to super  to harvest  to overwinter successfully  to control pests including mites

 Sealed brood  Healthy brood  Capped honey cells  Eggs  Queen cups/no cells  Condition of cells  Condition of frames  Change from last insp  Management needed

 IDENTIFY WITH APPROPRIATE LETTER: Capped Brood; Drone Brood; Honey; Nectar; Pollen (likely position); Eggs (or where to look); Queen Cups/Cells. CBCB DB H Q Cups CB H P

 IS BROOD HEALTHY?  IS BROOD PATTERN OK?  IS COLONY QUEENRIGHT? CBCB DB H CB H P

 What if there are NO EGGS present □ no queen present □ new virgin/newly mated queen present – not laying eggs yet □ look on another frame – this one filled with cells of mostly capped brood □ end of season or drought conditions or pollen resources no longer available □ bees preparing to abscond (or swarm) X

 What if no pollen evident? □ no young brood to stimulate pollen foraging □ numbers of cells filled with fresh nectar □ no space – look on another frame especially frame at edge of brood sphere □ pollen dearth or drought or heat spell □ bees preparing to abscond (or swarm) X

 Can you find the queen below? Marked queens easier to find - when necessary L. Connor photos YES NO

Spring frame – “read” cycles

Summer frame