[karenarnett]

After a number of years of relatively laissez faire beekeeping I am trying to monitor the hives closely, to learn better beekeeping methods. I've been checking hives about every five days so far this spring. I won't do this much inspecting once we get into the dearth - actually maybe once the supers fill up, as my back won't take lifting full supers off for repeated inspections. But for now, I'm keeping a close eye on the hives and learning.

I'm wondering: does anyone know of any studies as to how long it takes an unsmoked but thoroughly inspected colony to recover the temperature regulation needed for the brood? I don't know if I might be setting the colonies back by my five-day interval on inspections, since that's quite a lot. I use no smoke, or minimal occasionally, so that minimizes the intrusion. But I can feel that waft of warmth as I lift off the inner cover, which I associate with brood production.

Thanks for any informed insights!

 

[elmer_fud]

I have a data logger on one of my hives and have data on this. It will take me some time to compile, but I will try to get it together this evening.

 

[odfrank]

I would think the upset due to lack of smoke more of a problem than temperature loss.

 

[JConnolly]

Have you ever scooped up a cluster of bees? Ever notice how hot that cluster is? I'd say it only takes a few minutes.

 

[elmer_fud]

I pulled some data last night, the 2 yellow rows are the start and end of the inspection. The temperature in the top of the hive is a thermistor on the bottom of the quilt box. The hive middle temperature is a thermistor in the middle of a frame in the brood nest (seasonally)

It looks like the inspections did not affect the temperature much. It looks like the hive actually warmed up a bit after closing it back up, and I suspect this was the bees were working a bit harder to keep the hive warm during the inspection, then it took them some time to slow down.

 

[bushpilot]

I use no smoke, or minimal occasionally, so that minimizes the intrusion.

Since smoke calms the bees, no smoke is likely more intrusive overall than using smoke.

 

[Gray Goose]

So the 5 days thing help me with that.
Not sure of the average, for a keeper, but IMO 21 days is likely my average.

maybe stretch that to 7 this year and 10 next.
By all means if you need to get something done then do it.
but a "checkup" every 5 days seems oddly often. maybe a lid lift , check space done, sure,, but I hear inspection and think frame manipulation.

+1 on the smoke, IMO less alarm to the bees.

GG

 

[vtbeeguy]

They will be fine. Do you have multiple hives? I would limit my every 5 days to only one hive. The knowledge you will get from this is worth more than whatever small setback it might cause the colony (although i'm not convinced it does).

 

[GregV]

Bee inspection should really be done with a specific need and a specific plan of your actions.

For example, sometimes this week I need to check on a swarm I hived exactly 1 week ago.
The need - to be sure no cross-combs are build and fix those that I might potentially find before it gets out of hands (I am foundation-less).
Otherwise, I have no need to open them up.
I know they are fine and are developing properly without opening the hive.

So, what is the point of 5 day opening routine?
Well, your curiosity I can understand - but you create unnecessary hassle to the bees every 5 days for no clear reasons, if that matters to you.

 

[little_john]

Good to see some figures on this - I've often wondered about the possible cooling effects of inspections. Most of my hives I only look into now and then - whenever I think there may be an issue, or need to pull a frame for some purpose or other - but my breeder hives are sometimes opened-up several times a week, if needs be. Using a Nicot Laying Cage often requires 3 or 4 daily inspections - one after the other.

Smoke - can't generalise. Some hives hate smoke, and it only serves to irritate them. I can open-up my breeders, pull the whole thing apart if necessary (I usually don't ), and then reassemble - all without smoke - and the colony soon settles afterwards. That's the main characteristic I'm looking for in genetics - beekeeper tolerance.
LJ

 

[elmer_fud]

I try to check my hives once a week. I pull a few frames in the middle to look for eggs and larve to make sure the queen is fine, and tip up all of the boxes to look for queen cells. I almost never pull every frame in a hive.