02/09/2025
September is a crucial month for beekeepers: it’s time to look back at the season and start preparing the colony for winter.
During apiary inspections, it’s essential to assess the overall health of the hive, with special attention to the presence of healthy brood and sufficient food stores.
Colonies should have frames dedicated to storing supplies, and the queen must still be laying to ensure the birth of bees capable of enduring the cold months.
It’s also the time for a thorough health check of the colony and to monitor for Varroa mites.
From a management perspective, it’s time to reduce the brood nest by removing empty or old combs and placing division boards. This also improves the effectiveness of upcoming Varroa treatments. Weaker colonies may be combined, using specific precautions to prevent bee conflicts.
Another key aspect is feeding: if food stores are low, sugar syrup must be provided. This type of feeding also stimulates the queen’s egg-laying, ensuring the emergence of young bees by October — essential for spring recovery.
Managing supers requires care: after honey extraction, combs must be properly stored in cool, dry places to avoid wax moths and fermentation.
Finally, beware of robbing, which becomes more common in this period. Colonies should be reduced in size, entrances narrowed, and feeding always done after sunset, avoiding syrup or honey residue around the hives.
Very weak colonies may benefit from being temporarily moved away from the main apiary.
