Maine State Beekeepers Association
We love honeybees - you should too
Monitor food reserves. Feed medicated (Fumagilin-B) light syrup (1:1) to hives low on stores. Scrape bottom boards and check the brood pattern on a mild day. Install package bees April 15th or later and feed light syrup medicated with Fumagillin (PDF). Apply mite treatments to wintered colonies if Varroa are detected (mid-late April) in the drone brood. … [Read more...]
Feeding with Sugar Candy or Dry Sugar Hard Candy Hard candy is a very good way to feed bees without overly stimulating brood production, but it takes some preparation. Here are two recipes: Microwave Candy Recipe (feeds 1 or 2 colonies) 1. In a one quart ( or larger) microwave dish, mix thoroughly one and a half cups granulated sugar and one-half cup light corn syrup ( 3:1 ratio). … [Read more...]
Do you have bees you need removed?
Have no fear. Our Honey Bee Swarm Removal Team can help ASAP, or direct you to the right person in your area.
Members of the Maine State Beekeepers Association are indicated with a bee icon … [Read More...]
This document is intended as a reference and standard for honeybee management in Maine, with particular emphasis on urban/suburban … [Read More...]
Annual Bee Schools are sponsored by Local Chapters, Adult Education Programs, and sometimes in cooperation with the County Extension Service. These … [Read More...]
Nuc Transportation & Installation
Prior to nuc pickup, the empty hive (i.e. bottom board, hive body, five or six frames of foundation and/or comb, entrance reducer, inner cover, outer cover, empty hive body, sugar syrup, feeder) should be assembled and prepared for installation. The hive should be located at the apiary site in accordance with the MSBA’s “Best Management Practices for Beekeeping” found at … [Read more...]