 Swarm cells removed from one colony during splitting. Photo by Eric Malcolm, April 10, 2026. | Time in the Yard: 13 hours 03 minutes Avg Time per Colony: 13 minutes Total Colonies: 60 Temperature (°F): Hi: 86° Low: 30° Avg: 54.07° Total Precipitation: 0.62” |
Actions:
Monitored colonies (n=16) to prep to split as they prepare to swarm. Made splits (n=11) from overwintered colonies, including making 3-4 FOB splits (n=6), equal in size and resources to the 28 existing project colonies. Checked project colonies recently installed from packages (n=28) for queen acceptance or absconding. Culled emergency queen cells from splits that were left queenless (n=2).
Observations:
A lot of colonies were preparing to swarm. Our main factor for deciding when to make splits was finding charged swarm cells with eggs or larvae present. In a 1 deep and 1 medium box hive, the average population was usually around 16.5 FOBs, which is every frame full of bees. One additional package colony absconded. Temperament of most colonies has been wonderful and pleasant to work with minimal hand protection.
Reflections:
This was the busiest week in the bees yet this year. With more colonies and more various tasks that must be done based on where each colony is at with their growth, we are relying heavily on our records for making management decisions like what colonies need to be split (and when), what colonies will need to have emergency queen cells culled prior to requeening next week, and which queens we want to keep in the operation and where they are located after all of the splitting and moving. Still finding that monitoring is key to understanding the rate of growth of individual colonies and when they will need to be split to avoid losing the swarms.
Things in bloom: Purple Deadnettle, Wild Daffodil, Ivy-leaved Speedwell, Hairy Bittercress, Oriental Paperbush, Forsythia, Common Stork’s bill, European Field Pansy, Dandelion, Lesser Celandine, Garlic Penny-cress, Saucer Magnolia, Yoshino Cherry, Grape Hyacinth, Japanese Andromeda,Kanzan Cherry, Eastern Redbud, Wisteria, Giant Snowflake, Shepherd’s Purse, Lilac, Norway Maple, Henbit deadnettle, American Sweetgum, Eastern Redbud, Lenten Rose, Blackhaw Viburnum
Monitored colonies (n=16) to prep to split as they prepare to swarm. Made splits (n=11) from overwintered colonies, including making 3-4 FOB splits (n=6), equal in size and resources to the 28 existing project colonies. Checked project colonies recently installed from packages (n=28) for queen acceptance or absconding. Culled emergency queen cells from splits that were left queenless (n=2).
- Treated project colonies (n=30) from packages with Oxalic Acid Vapor, 4g each.
- Fed project colonies 1 gallon of 1:1 (n=30)
Observations:
A lot of colonies were preparing to swarm. Our main factor for deciding when to make splits was finding charged swarm cells with eggs or larvae present. In a 1 deep and 1 medium box hive, the average population was usually around 16.5 FOBs, which is every frame full of bees. One additional package colony absconded. Temperament of most colonies has been wonderful and pleasant to work with minimal hand protection.
Reflections:
This was the busiest week in the bees yet this year. With more colonies and more various tasks that must be done based on where each colony is at with their growth, we are relying heavily on our records for making management decisions like what colonies need to be split (and when), what colonies will need to have emergency queen cells culled prior to requeening next week, and which queens we want to keep in the operation and where they are located after all of the splitting and moving. Still finding that monitoring is key to understanding the rate of growth of individual colonies and when they will need to be split to avoid losing the swarms.
Things in bloom: Purple Deadnettle, Wild Daffodil, Ivy-leaved Speedwell, Hairy Bittercress, Oriental Paperbush, Forsythia, Common Stork’s bill, European Field Pansy, Dandelion, Lesser Celandine, Garlic Penny-cress, Saucer Magnolia, Yoshino Cherry, Grape Hyacinth, Japanese Andromeda,