☯ Beekeeping Tip # 13
Beekeeping Tip # 13
Put your hives in full sun.
Many beekeepers are putting their hives in the best place for the family, forgetting the best place for the bees. I get it! Family first!! But the healthy hive has many considerations. Full sun can keep many pest concerns to a minimum. For this tip it is small hive beetle, SHB.
Small Hive Beetle
Small hive beetle flies into the hive. It can ruin a honey crop, make the hive abscond and slime frames of brood. A hive in full sun has less SHB.
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| SHB near the end bar |
It is unclear why SHB is lower when hives are in full sun. Personally, I don't care why when it is an easy organic fix! SHB can make a strong hive abscond when it begins it's sliming of the hive.
SHB lays eggs all through the hive in messy clusters.
- egg 2-3 days
- larval stage feeding 5 - 10 days
- larval non-feeding 5 -8 days
- pupae 5 to 11 days (in soil)
- young adult 5-9 days
- emerge from soil
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| SHB larvae |
Slimed!
So , if it is possible , move those hives to full sun. Think of it as pest management.
I have some hives that I must move in late fall for the winter to sunnier spots. The autumn sun is so different than spring or summer that the hives are in the deep shade by 2 pm! Could this be a consideration in your apiary?
Varroa
A note about varroa; this sunny local has also been noted to decrease varroa populations. Again, not exactly understood why, but I'll take it!!
Further reading;
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