http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in848
Table 3.
Management calendar for south Florida.
Notes
Month
Management Calendar
Blooming plants
Varroa numbers begin to grow in south Florida in February. Monitor closely. Are you ready for the Feb citrus bloom? Talk with your growers!
January
1) Feed colonies if light (colonies can starve!) – also supply pollen supplements if necessary.
2) Nosema can be a significant colony problem this time of year. You can treat colonies for Nosema disease using Fumigillin. Colonies may need as much as 4 gallons of medicated syrup to control Nosema ceranae.
3) Repair/paint old equipment.
Maple, Willow, Spanish NeedleFM, Mexican CloverFM, Primrose WillowFM
February
1) Feed colonies if light (colonies can starve!).
2) Can treat colonies for Nosema disease using Fumigillin.
3) Can treat with Terramycin or Tylan dust for American foulbrood/European foulbrood.
4) Make nucs/splits.
OrangeM, Sweet cloverM, OakM
March
1) Colony populations begin to grow! Add supers and/or control swarming as necessary.
2) Can treat with Terramycin or Tylan for American foulbrood prevention
Same as above, Mangrove, Seagrape, Buttonwood
April
1) Disease and queen problems should be remedied.
2) Make splits/nucs – new queens available.
3) Control swarming.
4) Flow began in March – continue to add supers as necessary.
5) Orange blossom honey can be extracted (late Apr).
OrangeM, Spanish NeedleMJ, GalberryMJ, Mexican CloverMJ, Primrose WillowMJ, Smart WeedMJ, MangroveM, SeagrapeM, ButtonwoodM Wild CoffeeMJ, Shrubby False Buttonweed M
May
1) Continue to remedy colony maladies, especially queen problems.
2) Continue swarm control.
3) Super as necessary.
4) Move bees from orange to other locations.
PalmettoJ, MangroveJ, Seagrape, Buttonwood, Dahoon hollyJ
June
1) Super as necessary for late flows.
2) If flow is over, remove and process honey.
3) Varroa populations begin to grow – monitor colonies closely and treat if necessary.
Palm, Melaleuca, Shrubby False Buttonweed JA
July
1) Remove and process honey—main flow stops.
2) Varroa populations begin to grow—monitor colonies closely and treat if necessary. Treatment options include: Apiguard, Api life VAR, Apistan, Mite Away II, Hopguard and Apivar.
Spanish NeedleAS, PalmAS, Mexican CloverAS, Primrose WillowAS, Smart WeedAS, MelaleucaAS
Attend S. Fl. Bee College
August
1) Monitor colonies for Varroa (see July)!
2) Treat with Terramycin dust for American foulbrood/European foulbrood.
3) Feed colonies if light.
4) Monitor for and control small hive beetles.
5) It's hot! Ensure adequate colony ventilation
Same as above
September
1) Monitor colonies for Varroa (see July)!
2) Super colonies if strong for B. Pepper flow.
3) Consider treating colonies for Nosema disease using Fumigillin. (see north Florida Sept above).
4) If no nectar flow, feed colonies if light.
Same as above + Brazilian Pepper*, Shrubby False ButtonweedON
Varroa are an important issue in S. Florida in winter because colonies are rarely broodless.
October - December
1) Varroa populations peaked in Aug/Sept. Monitor Varroa populations closely and treat if necessary. Treatment options include: Apiguard, Api life VAR, Apistan, Mite Away II, Hopguard, and Apivar.
2) Can treat colonies for Nosema disease using Fumigillin. Colonies may need as much as 4 gallons of medicated syrup to control Nosema cerana.
3) Monitor for and control small hive beetles (options include Checkmite+, GardStar, Hood traps, West Beetle traps, beetle blasters and more).
4) Feed colonies if light (colonies can starve!).
5) Can treat for tracheal mites (mix vegetable oil and powdered sugar until doughy—not sticky to touch; place a pancake-sized patty on top bars of brood chamber).
Oct: Spanish NeedleND, Mexican CloverND, Brazilian Pepper* Primrose WillowND, Smart Weed, MelaleucaND,
Nov: nothing new blooms
Dec: Maple, Willow
*Brazilian Pepper blooms from September through October and is a significant fall source of nectar for bees.
FContinues to bloom in February, MContinues to bloom in March, FMContinues to bloom in Feb and March
MContinues to bloom in May, JContinues to bloom in June, MJContinues to bloom in May and June
AContinues to bloom in August, SContinues to bloom in September, ASContinues to bloom in Aug and Sept
NContinues to bloom in Nov, DContinues to bloom in Dec, NDContinues to bloom in Nov and Dec
Table 3.
Management calendar for south Florida.
Notes
Month
Management Calendar
Blooming plants
Varroa numbers begin to grow in south Florida in February. Monitor closely. Are you ready for the Feb citrus bloom? Talk with your growers!
January
1) Feed colonies if light (colonies can starve!) – also supply pollen supplements if necessary.
2) Nosema can be a significant colony problem this time of year. You can treat colonies for Nosema disease using Fumigillin. Colonies may need as much as 4 gallons of medicated syrup to control Nosema ceranae.
3) Repair/paint old equipment.
Maple, Willow, Spanish NeedleFM, Mexican CloverFM, Primrose WillowFM
February
1) Feed colonies if light (colonies can starve!).
2) Can treat colonies for Nosema disease using Fumigillin.
3) Can treat with Terramycin or Tylan dust for American foulbrood/European foulbrood.
4) Make nucs/splits.
OrangeM, Sweet cloverM, OakM
March
1) Colony populations begin to grow! Add supers and/or control swarming as necessary.
2) Can treat with Terramycin or Tylan for American foulbrood prevention
Same as above, Mangrove, Seagrape, Buttonwood
April
1) Disease and queen problems should be remedied.
2) Make splits/nucs – new queens available.
3) Control swarming.
4) Flow began in March – continue to add supers as necessary.
5) Orange blossom honey can be extracted (late Apr).
OrangeM, Spanish NeedleMJ, GalberryMJ, Mexican CloverMJ, Primrose WillowMJ, Smart WeedMJ, MangroveM, SeagrapeM, ButtonwoodM Wild CoffeeMJ, Shrubby False Buttonweed M
May
1) Continue to remedy colony maladies, especially queen problems.
2) Continue swarm control.
3) Super as necessary.
4) Move bees from orange to other locations.
PalmettoJ, MangroveJ, Seagrape, Buttonwood, Dahoon hollyJ
June
1) Super as necessary for late flows.
2) If flow is over, remove and process honey.
3) Varroa populations begin to grow – monitor colonies closely and treat if necessary.
Palm, Melaleuca, Shrubby False Buttonweed JA
July
1) Remove and process honey—main flow stops.
2) Varroa populations begin to grow—monitor colonies closely and treat if necessary. Treatment options include: Apiguard, Api life VAR, Apistan, Mite Away II, Hopguard and Apivar.
Spanish NeedleAS, PalmAS, Mexican CloverAS, Primrose WillowAS, Smart WeedAS, MelaleucaAS
Attend S. Fl. Bee College
August
1) Monitor colonies for Varroa (see July)!
2) Treat with Terramycin dust for American foulbrood/European foulbrood.
3) Feed colonies if light.
4) Monitor for and control small hive beetles.
5) It's hot! Ensure adequate colony ventilation
Same as above
September
1) Monitor colonies for Varroa (see July)!
2) Super colonies if strong for B. Pepper flow.
3) Consider treating colonies for Nosema disease using Fumigillin. (see north Florida Sept above).
4) If no nectar flow, feed colonies if light.
Same as above + Brazilian Pepper*, Shrubby False ButtonweedON
Varroa are an important issue in S. Florida in winter because colonies are rarely broodless.
October - December
1) Varroa populations peaked in Aug/Sept. Monitor Varroa populations closely and treat if necessary. Treatment options include: Apiguard, Api life VAR, Apistan, Mite Away II, Hopguard, and Apivar.
2) Can treat colonies for Nosema disease using Fumigillin. Colonies may need as much as 4 gallons of medicated syrup to control Nosema cerana.
3) Monitor for and control small hive beetles (options include Checkmite+, GardStar, Hood traps, West Beetle traps, beetle blasters and more).
4) Feed colonies if light (colonies can starve!).
5) Can treat for tracheal mites (mix vegetable oil and powdered sugar until doughy—not sticky to touch; place a pancake-sized patty on top bars of brood chamber).
Oct: Spanish NeedleND, Mexican CloverND, Brazilian Pepper* Primrose WillowND, Smart Weed, MelaleucaND,
Nov: nothing new blooms
Dec: Maple, Willow
*Brazilian Pepper blooms from September through October and is a significant fall source of nectar for bees.
FContinues to bloom in February, MContinues to bloom in March, FMContinues to bloom in Feb and March
MContinues to bloom in May, JContinues to bloom in June, MJContinues to bloom in May and June
AContinues to bloom in August, SContinues to bloom in September, ASContinues to bloom in Aug and Sept
NContinues to bloom in Nov, DContinues to bloom in Dec, NDContinues to bloom in Nov and Dec
