July Field Notes

IN THE HIVE:
- Watch for bearding outside the hive as it gets hotter this month.
- Varroa mite population can explode if left untreated. 
- Swarm season will wind down mid July.
- Remove entrance reducer in hotter months, like July to aid the bees in cooling down the hive. 

INSPECTIONS AND NUTRITION:
- Continue once a month hive inspections.
- Another note about dearth of forage, if you collected spring honey, you really need to monitor honey stores in the hive. 
- Provide a water source near the hive. 

PEST & COLONY MANAGEMENT:
- Continue to monitor Varroa mite levels and use treatment methods and management as mentioned in May and June.
- If you do split a hive, placing the queen in the new hive along with half of the colony, the original hive will not have a queen. For at least 42 days there won't be any new brood, affecting Varroa mite populations in the hive. This might be a method to help combat Varroa problems in your colonies.
- This could be the last month to split your colonies during the season. The bees will need enough time to build up their supplies for winter.
- Add a queen excluder if you haven't already, to manage honey supers. 
- You may need to remove supers if you are treating Varroa mites with chemicals.
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BLOOMING NOW:
Early Clover, White Sweetclover, Yellow Sweetclover, Apple, Cherry, Plum, Pear, Blueberries, Raspberries, Blackberries, Deadnettle, Elderberry, Black Locust, Honeysuckle, Tulip Poplar, Hawthorn, Autumn Olive, Oak, Willow, Dandelion, Russian Olive, Milkweed, Purple Loosestrife, Yellow Rocket, Chicory, Hairy Vetch, Purple Vetch, Grape, Sumac, Knapweed, Catalpa Trees, Birdsfoot Trefoil. 

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