Orange Blossom Beekeepers Association

Monthly Meeting: February 17, 2022

OBBA Announcements

What's the buzz?

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OBBA Workshop

Saturday, Feb 19, 2022 pending clear weather

(If raining -> will postpone)

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Honey For Sale

We have OBBA honey to purchase!

Number (1 lbs) Price
1 bottle $10
2 bottles $18
3 bottles $25

Pay Dues

You can pay your annual dues:

OrangeBlossomBeekeepers.org/join-obba/

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February / March Bee Management

Current UF Management Recommendations (February/March)

  • Colony populations begin to grow (late Feb into March!)
    • Remedy failing queens as necessary
    • Add supers and/or swarming control
    • Make nucs/splits
  • Monitor for Varroa
    • Treat if 3% with Apiguard, Apistan, Apivar, Hopguard, and Mite Away
  • Check for AFB and/or EFB

What is blooming in Central Florida (February)

  • Cherry
  • Fetterbush
  • Hawthorn
  • Maple
  • Oak
  • Plum
  • Sand Pine
  • Swamp Titi
  • Sweet Clover
  • Water Viburnum
  • Willow

What is blooming in Central Florida (March)

  1. Blueberry
  2. Cherry
  3. Fetterbush
  4. Hawthorn
  5. Oak
  6. Orange
  1. Plum
  2. Spanish Needle
  3. Sweet Clover
  4. Water Viburnum
  5. Willow

Review Proposed Bylaws

Proposed Bylaws

Vote for new Officers

  • [ ] President
    • Matthew Rensberry
  • [ ] Vice-President
    • Miranda Clemetel
  • [ ] Treasurer
    • Debra NcNamee
  • [ ] Secretary
    • Brandon Thompson

February Beekeeping in Florida

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Make Space for Hive Growth

  • Harvest excess honey
  • Add super if necessary

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Swarm prevention

  • Consider splits
  • Identify aging queens
  • Check queen cups for eggs/larvae/food

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Swarm Prevention Methods

Separate 1 from the other 2:

  • Queen
  • Flying bees (Forager bees)
  • Brood/Nurse bees

Ways to Deter Swarming

  • Remove some bees and brood to make a nucleus
  • Move some brood to another colony
  • Exchange a populous colony with swarm cells with a weaker colony in the apiary
  • Add a super with empty drawn comb and foundation
  • Remove the supers and bees and combine with a weak colony (newspaper)

When queen cells are found

  • No queen/swarm gone:
    • Leave an unsealed queen cell or divide into nuc
  • Queen present/colony not swarmed:
    • Make a split (artificial swarm)

Breaking down queen cells is not a method of swarm control

Assess Hive Health

  • Queen rightness
  • Hive temperament
  • Signs of disease

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Stay involved, Stay connected

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