Honey Yields and Pollination

1 . By looking at comb, how do you know that there is a major nectar flow in process?

There is the presence of freshly made white bees wax and if you gently shake the cells, nectar rains out of the open cells

2 . What is “top supering”?

Adding the next honey super on top of the existing ones

3 . What is “bottom supering”?

Remove all previous honey supers (by now partially or filled), place a new one on top of the brood nest, and replace partially or filled supers above.

4 . What is the advantage of “bottom supering”?

The empty combs near the entrance of the hive supposedly encourage bees to quickly draw out and fill with honey.

5 . Has “bottom supering” been proven to work?

There is minimal, to no advantage in honey production and involves a lot of lifting on the part of the beekeeper.

6 . Does the use of old combs (black and heavy with age) affect colony growth?

Yes, it decreases colony growth and they should be replaced

7 . When working with Africanized honey bees, is it best to place the hives close to one another, on the same stand or on isolated stands?

No, hives should be separated by some distance and not placed on the same stand or pallet. It is best to use single hive stands because working one hive on the same stand can cause vibrations that excite and cause defensive behavior in a nearby colony.

8 . When working with Africanized honey bees, should the beekeeper wear a black faced veil or a white faced veil and why?

Beekeepers should wear a white faced veil since the bees will mass around the black veil and obscure vision.

9 . Is there any good news about Africanized honey bees?

They are relatively disease and pest resistant and provide honey crops equivalent to Europeanized colonies.

10 . What plant is the largest honey source in the United States?

Clover

11 . What is the standard size of colonies that are used to pollinate crops?

Minimal of 6 frames of brood with bees covering the entire frame.

12 . For pollination, what is the target density of bee colonies per acre?

One colony or more per acre to be pollinated