【 Bee Knowledge 】 How to spend the summer safely for bees?

It was summer, and it was sweltering. Hot weather made people tired and uncomfortable, as it does for humans. What about bees? Do bees feel the same way? How do bees spend the summer heat? Let's take a look at how bees can stay safe this summer.

First, the characteristics of summer

In summer, which is what we call may to August, beekeeping is a little bit more difficult, so to speak, because there are two kinds of weather patterns throughout the summer.

First: May to June

In southern China, this time can be said to be early summer, the temperature is not so high, but there is a problem, that is, a lot of rain. For the northern region, in fact, this time is not hot, it is the spring of our southern region, so the general meaning of bee transfer are carried out in the end of April, so that just can let the bees in the northern region to accept the northern "spring".

Second: July to August

This time can be said to be the most difficult time for bees, the temperature is high, often the external nectar source is exhausted, but also the high incidence of disease and enemy. Although there are also a large number of nectar plants in summer, the distribution of nectar plants varies according to different conditions in different places. For some places that lack honey, bees spend almost 3 months without nectar in the whole summer. So for the whole summer, we may be getting hotter in the south, but the north is flooding.

Tips on summer bee keeping

1. Adjust swarm potential: adjust the swarm potential to 6~7 frames of strong swarm, and 7~14 frames of general swarm as much as possible. Because the group is too strong, when the lack of nectar, will increase consumption; Group potential is too weak, such as adverse environment, restore zhuang group difficult, not conducive to autumn production.

2. Constricted spleen: the queen bee likes to lay eggs and breed insects on the newly built spleen. At the same time, the newly built spleen is not susceptible to the harm of spleen insects, which can reduce the insect pests suffered by the pupa in the process of egg formation. However, it should be noted that the old spleen and the excess nest spleen in the box should be taken out in time, so that the bee and the spleen are commensurate, so as to avoid the burden of bee protection of the nest and spleen.

3. Heat protection: In summer, the hive must not be placed in the sun, the hive must be arranged under a tall broad-leaved tree, if there is no shade around, must build a pergola, enlarge the nest door, and put an empty box in the nest box, in order to expand the space, circulation air, prevent high temperature and sultry. At the same time can be placed in the box drinking water or drinking nest spleen, so that both can cool down and make the bees free drinking water. Water can also be sprayed around the hive to cool it.

4. Prevention of poisoning: summer farmland frequently, to control the bees out of the nest, so that it is not harmed by pesticides. If the bees are found to be poisoned, the poisonous feed on the spleen should be removed immediately, and then the honey and water of 1:4 dilute honey solution should be fed. If bees are poisoned by organophosphorus pesticides, they should be treated with atropine. Use 0.3kg honey water and 2mL 1% atropine sulfate to spray directly on bees, so that bees can suck each other to detoxify.

5. Expel enemy: summer bee enemy more, wasps, wasps often kill bees in front of the nest, ants also steal to eat honey, toad at night also hide in the nest box foraging for honey. In order to avoid enemy invasion, it is best to install a rectangular iron sand net cover in front of the nest, leaving a few holes for bees to come in and out, so that not only can avoid all kinds of enemy harm, but also can prevent stolen bees.

6. Prevention and control of bee mite: bee mite is rampant in summer, which is the enemy of the safe summer of bees. If it is not controlled in time, it will weaken the swarm, or even wipe out the whole colony. Prevention and control method: choose no wind in the morning or evening, spray 1:150 insecticidal mite solution with micro sprayer for prevention and control.

7. Adequate feed: when the summer honey source is insufficient or interrupted, the phenomenon of bee nectar theft occurs from time to time. Therefore, summer to keep enough honey as summer feed. If honey is not enough, it can be replaced with sugar water or artificial mixed feed.

8. Reduce bee inspection: In hot summer, check the colony as little as possible so as not to disturb the colony or even cause bee thieves. If we must check, we should do it quickly. If we find that the bee colony is too weak or lost, we should merge it in time.

Conclusion

Although summer is very hot, but in many places the temperature difference between day and night is more obvious, the temperature in the daytime of 30 or 40 degrees, at night may drop to several degrees. So, no matter where we spend the summer, we should pay attention to the protection of the hive and the feeding of bees.