June Field Notes

IN THE HIVE:
- The hive population will be at its highest this month and the next. There wil be 40,000 - 60,000 bees or more per hive.
​- Larger colonies will continue to rear drones. 
- Varroa mites will continue to increase.
 
INSPECTIONS & NUTRITION:
- Perform hive inspections at least once a month now, checking brood pattern, colony growth, available space, presence of the queen or evidence she is laying. Check for pests and diseases.
- Add supers if brood chambers are full and the hive population is still growing.
- In the South, beekeepers can remove supers and harvest honey this month.

PEST MANAGEMENT:
- Monitor Varroa mite levels. If after sugar shake, alcohol wash or ether roll testing, you find 2-3 mites per 100 bees, use a Varroa mite treatment. 
- This is a good time of year to treat against Varroa mites by caging the queen or making splits to break the breeding cycle.
 
COLONY MANAGEMENT:
- Use the same swarm control methods as May.
- Add a queen excluder if you haven't already.
- Still time to catch a swarm, set up swarm traps and bait with lemongrass.
- Foundation will be drawn out. 
- It might be necessary to extract spring honey depending on the size of your colony. 
- Extract honey immediately upon removing supers to prevent small beetle infestation.

BLOOMING NOW: 
- Early clover, White Sweetclover, Yellow Sweetclover, Apple, Cherry, Plum, Pear, Blueberries, Raspberries, Blackberries, Deadnette, Elderberry, Black Locust, Honeysuckle, Tulip Poplar, Hawthorn, Autumn Olive, Oak, Willow, Dandelion, Russian Olive, Milkweed, Purple Lossestrife, Yellow Rocket, Chicory, Hairy Vetch, Purple Vetch, Grape, Sumac, Knapweed, Catalpa, Birdsfoot Treefoil. 
​

---