- Golden Rules for SHG Beekeepers
- Inspect colonies regularly.
- Monitor Varroa mites routinely.
- Ensure continuous water availability.
- Maintain adequate food stores.
- Isolate diseased colonies immediately.
- Replace old queens on time.
- Maintain colony records.
- Harvest only mature capped honey.
- How much honey can a colony produce?
Answer: Under scientific management, 20–40 kg or more per colony annually depending on flora and management.
- Why should uncapped honey not be harvested?
Answer: High moisture content may reduce quality and cause fermentation
- When should honey be harvested?
Answer: When at least 80% of cells are capped.
- What precautions are needed during winter?
Answer: Reduce hive entrance size, ensure adequate food reserves, and unite weak colonies.
- What precautions are needed during the rainy season?
Answer: Keep hives elevated, prevent waterlogging, and control ants and wax moths.
- What precautions are needed during summer?
Answer: Provide shade, water, and adequate ventilation.
- How can Chalkbrood be managed?
Answer: Improve ventilation, replace poor queens, remove infected combs, and maintain strong colonies.
- What is Chalkbrood?
Answer: A fungal disease where larvae become chalk-like mummies.
- What are the symptoms of Nosema?
Answer: Dysentery, swollen abdomen, reduced flight activity, and gradual colony weakening.
- What is Nosema disease?
Answer: A microsporidian infection affecting the digestive system of adult bees.
- What is European Foulbrood (EFB)?
Answer: A bacterial disease affecting larvae, usually less severe than AFB.
- What are the symptoms of EFB?
Answer: Twisted larvae, yellow discoloration, irregular brood pattern, and weak colonies.
- What should be done if AFB is detected?
Answer: Isolate the colony, confirm diagnosis, disinfect equipment, and follow expert recommendations.
- What are the symptoms of AFB?
Answer: Sunken brood caps, foul smell, ropy larval remains, and irregular brood pattern.
- What is American Foulbrood (AFB)?
Answer: A serious bacterial disease affecting brood and highly contagious.
- How can Varroa be managed?
Answer: Regular monitoring, drone brood removal, maintaining strong colonies, and approved treatments as per expert advice
- What are the symptoms of Varroa infestation?
Weak colonies, deformed wings, poor brood pattern, and declining bee population.
- What is Varroa mite?
A parasitic mite that feeds on bees and brood and transmits viruses.
- How can a weak colony be strengthened?
Provide brood frames from strong colonies, adequate feeding, disease control, and requeening if necessary.
- How often should a queen be replaced?
Ideally every 1–2 years for optimal productivity.
- How can swarming be prevented?
- Why does a colony become weak?
Poor queen quality, diseases, pests, lack of forage, swarming, or Varroa infestation.
- How can a queenless colony be identified?
Absence of eggs, noisy bees, poor brood production, and multiple eggs in cells
- When should sugar syrup be fed?
During nectar dearth periods, colony establishment, migration, or food shortages.
- When should a honey super be added?
When 7–8 brood frames are covered with bees and the colony becomes crowded.
- What is the ideal location for a beehive?
A dry, well-ventilated site with morning sunlight, afternoon shade, water availability, and away from pesticide exposure.
- How often should a hive be inspected?
Every 7–10 days during peak seasons and every 15–20 days during lean seasons.
- What are the signs of a healthy colony?
Answer: Active queen laying eggs, compact brood pattern, adequate worker population, sufficient honey and pollen stores, and no disease symptoms.
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