 A strong colony coming out of winter with lots of bees and drone brood in burr comb between tops and bottoms of frames. Photo by Eric Malcolm, March 5, 2026, Glenn Dale, MD. | Time in the Yard: 3 hours 45 minutes Avg Time per Colony: 13 minutes Total Colonies: 25 Temperature (°F): Hi: 65° Low: 29° Avg: 43.6° Total Precipitation: 0.34” Note: We are planning to finish remaining inspections, feed colonies and combine the DL/LW colonies with 4 or 5 FOB colonies that have good brood patterns in the following week. |
Actions:
Performed full inspections (17) and started prophylactic OAV treatment on colonies.
Found 3 drone layer (DL) /laying worker (LW) colonies. One of the dead-out colonies from a previous cold-weather inspection is not dead after all! Colonies consumed most of the fondant provided February 19th. Some colonies came out of winter with small populations (1.5 to 4 frames of bees (FOB)). Most queens are laying and display solid brood patterns. Some smaller colonies are just starting to lay or cap worker brood while strong colonies have begun rearing drones, some of which are capped or emerged.
Reflections:
Feeding pollen sub and 1:1 syrup a little earlier may have been helpful since we are planning to expand our operation this year, but that is hard to know without inspecting earlier.
Things in bloom: Crocus, American Witch-hazel, Snowdrop
Performed full inspections (17) and started prophylactic OAV treatment on colonies.
- Treated with Oxalic Acid vaporization (17), 4 grams per brood box.
Found 3 drone layer (DL) /laying worker (LW) colonies. One of the dead-out colonies from a previous cold-weather inspection is not dead after all! Colonies consumed most of the fondant provided February 19th. Some colonies came out of winter with small populations (1.5 to 4 frames of bees (FOB)). Most queens are laying and display solid brood patterns. Some smaller colonies are just starting to lay or cap worker brood while strong colonies have begun rearing drones, some of which are capped or emerged.
Reflections:
Feeding pollen sub and 1:1 syrup a little earlier may have been helpful since we are planning to expand our operation this year, but that is hard to know without inspecting earlier.
Things in bloom: Crocus, American Witch-hazel, Snowdrop
Evidence of a drone layer queen. Photo by Eric Malcolm, March 5, 2026.
Small sections of capped brood next to capped honey. Photo by Eric Malcolm, March 5, 2026.
A busy frame of bees, several with light yellow pollen. Photo by Eric Malcolm, March 5, 2026.