Common Mistakes Made by First Year Beekeepers

You must treat for varroa mites!  Varroa mites are the #1 cause of colony loss.  Varroa mites carry the deformed wing virus which is deadly to bees.  A high mite load in the colony can cause the colony to abscond (leave the hive) or die.  Use the Varroa Management Decision Tool created by the Honey Bee Health Coaliltion to help you choose the right type of mite treatment.

Ant control is often overlooked by beginning beekeepers and can lead to the bees absconding (leaving the hive). Strong colonies can usually manage ants but a weaker colony may become overwhelmed. There are many options for ant control – some more effective than others. Some not so effective treatments in my opinion are sprinkling cinammon or diatomacious earth on the ground under the hives. Much more effective are oil barriers. You can put the legs of your hive stand in cans filled with oil or you can spread tanglefoot at the base of the hive stand. I use a product I found on Ebay called Beehive/Pet food Ant Barrier. I use them on all my hives. They work great!

During times where food is scarce, bees from other colonies can rob the honey from neighboring colonies. Robbers can wipe out a colony in a matter of minutes. Using robbing screens will greatly reduce the chances your colony will be robbed. You can make your own robbing screens or buy them – my favorite is the Bee Smart Robbing Screen.