These chores are for the Midlands of South Carolina or a similar climate where the bees are flying at least a few hours most days of the year. February begins a gradual warming in the Midlands but can often be all over the map with freezing temperatures as well as the occasional warm, even spring like, day.

Red Maple blooms in earnest at the beginning of this month and other early bloomers soon join in – look for them along the roadways. The queen goes full tilt with her egg laying and the colony makes plans for reproduction. A lot is happening but mostly it’s a covert operation within the hives for the bees during February. While we humans believe it’s winter, the bees have decided to go forward with spring plans and are building up their population in anticipation of colony reproduction (read what Randy Oliver has to say about Understanding Colony Buildup). For the beekeeper it’s crunch time to prepare themselves and equipment for the coming rush of spring. Bees can and sometimes begin swarming the later part of February in South Carolina.

1) During inspections this month we are looking to ensure the bees have enough food stores to support their current brood buildup. During February the bees will be intent on raising lots of brood regardless of their pantry stores. This population increase will require food for the nurse bees, larvae, and additional heat to be generated from the workers. For that reason, the use of colony food stores is dramatically increased. We are entering a risky time for colony starvation. Remember, the colony will keep everyone fed up until the last drop of honey is used then they will perish together, typically head down in the cells, if food is not available.

2) We get occasional warm, spring like, days in February.  You may do a pre-spring inspection, checking for the presence of a queen and assessing the colony and stores. In fact, it is strongly recommended you assess the colony on a nice day, warm enough that the bees are out flying. Explore into the hive as far down as the brood nest if the weather is warm and the bees are flying. Note strength, they should be gaining in population. Be purposeful and brief. Check honey supply and feed with a candy board, sugar bricks, fondant, or thick sugar syrup fed from above if below one-half super. Whatever you choose, the food must be placed close to the cluster or on top for them to access the food during cold weather. If you saved frames of honey you may add these (after thawing), placing them close to or above the cluster. When removing a top telescoping cover with the  inner cover exposed, if the bees are visible in the hole in the inner cover you likely need to feed. Typically once feeding is started it continues until the nectar flow begins to prevent starvation of the growing colony.

3) Depending on the Midlands climate, be ready for an early buildup. Some colonies, especially those that were fed through the winter, may be making swarm preparations. As brood rearing continues and populations increase, make note of increased population and congestion in the brood area. Swap (rotate) brood boxes based on your assessment of buildup. Rotating boxes provides the queen with empty drawn comb to lay in as well as disrupts the colony with regards to swarm preparations. Only rotate brood boxes when all of the nest is in the upper brood box (food chamber).  You do not want to split the cluster.  Rotating brood boxes is a swarm prevention measure, not simply to get the queen into the lower brood box.

4) When rotating boxes notice that the bees will often have built drone comb in the space between boxes (bottom bar to top bar). You will break this comb as you separate the boxes – don’t panic. Before scraping the top bars clean, visually assess for the presence of Varroa mites on the drone pupae. Also note whether the drone pupae are at the purple eyed stage which indicates queen rearing may start soon if swarm prevention efforts are not implemented.

5) Low stress swarm prevention measures that do not disrupt the brood nest, such as hive body rotation, adding drawn comb above, and nectar management can typically be safely done during early February. Later in the month, weather permitting (moderate temps), and depending on colony buildup and strength, you may want to perform more invasive swarm prevention methods such as the opening up the brood chamber with drawn comb or even empty frames if congested. (Next month we will talk about swarm control i.e. when they have ignored all your hard work and decided to swarm.)

6) If your goal is to build up for honey production, or to make increase (i.e. splits) you may want to begin to stimulate the colony with feed. This will stimulate a population growth that will accelerate rapidly. Eggs laid on Valentine’s Day, will reach foraging age by April 1st which often marks the beginning of the nectar flow in the Midlands. Be cautious, stimulating population growth will also stimulate swarm preparations. Your goal is to have lots of bees for nectar collection, but the bees have a different idea. Swarm prevention and control techniques should be constantly on your management agenda. Also, once you start feeding it is important that you continue until the nectar flow begins unless you are assured they have enough to feed larvae and heat the colony until forage is available.

7) Assess for Varroa levels early February and give a spring clean-up treatment if indicated. Your goal is very low levels now because it will be June before the nectar flow ends and supers are removed. Remember, once supers are in place your options for varroa treatment are greatly reduced. When choosing your treatment method make note of how soon it needs to be out of the hive prior to placing honey supers. Remove any medications in the hive if already in place before the nectar flow begins.

8) If not yet done, continue to assemble honey supers, frames, etc. Get them ready now because you will be busy once the season begins.

9) Notice Red Maple  starting along the roadways in the Midlands. Also Dandelions, Japanese Apricot, and Camellias.

10) Notice bees bringing in yellow pollen.

11) Place and bait swarm traps (bait hives) by mid month.

12) If you are going to chase swarms this year, prepare a well-ventilated traveling nucleus hive or a portable hive for transport. Sign up for swarm notifications with your local club, and pest control companies. In the Midlands, contact David Gobbel from the MSBA webpage if you want to be placed on the MSBA swarm call list.

13) Build and prepare woodenware and frames for upcoming spring splits.

14) If you stored your drawn comb using paradichlorobenzene for wax moth control, start the airing out process.