Internal hive inspection
Note: Most of the content was retrieved from the books "Beekeeping Manual for beginners" by Holeta Bee Research Center and the APIRE project [1]. and from "Advanced Beekeeping Manual by Ethiopian Beekeepers Association and Netherlands Development Organization (SNV-Ethiopia).[2]
Internal hive inspections work for movable frame hives but not for traditional hives with fixed combs. Regular inspection is an important management practice to assess the status of the bee colony. Based on the findings during the process, corrective measures and further management steps are planned. Among others, the following checks are the most common ones:
- Check if the hive needs more or less room
- Check the food supply of the colony
- Check for swarming signs
- Check the colony's health status
- Check if the time is right for queen excluder
- Check if the honey is ripe and check if it is time to harvest the honey
Depending on the used bee species, their strengh or the season, bees are more or less aggressiv. Therefore, necessary preparations should be made to take care and to prevent injuries. 1. Protective gear is recommended and should be cleaned regularely. Bees scent bee veno from the distance and this may irritate them. The color of gear may also play a role. Prefer light colors. 2. If working with aggressiv bees, is is necessary to wear clothes under the protective gear. Make sure, that the zippers run all the way through. Wearing clothes that are too light or thin may lead to stings. Also make sure, that the bee veil is not too close to the face, otherwise stings get through. The smoke for the internal inspection has to last through the whole operation time. 3. Choose good weather conditions on your target day. When inspecting beehives, the weather should not be windy, cold or rainy. Do not wear perfues or other strong smelling cosmetics. Sweat and body odor may also affect the bees. 4. If a human gets stung by a bee, gently remove the sting from the body and wash the affected body part with water. Otherwise the other bees get alarmed and become more aggressive. People with minor allergies to bee venom show symptoms of itching, body swelling, breathing problems and vomiting. People who have a serious allergy are affected very quickly by the venom. In addition to the mentioned symptomes, they will have a higher heart beat and body sweating. Those people should be transferred into a hospital quickly. 5. Avoud loud noises, disturbances and fast movememts. 6. Standard beehive opening procedures: The top lid should always be removed. Stand on the side or behind the beehive and blow smoke into the colony. Use a chisel or a knife to liod the cover and blow smoke on the sides and into the beehive. Completely remove the lid and blow smoke into the hive to led the bees move away, If the inspection takes place in the lowest chamber, place the other chambers on the upturned lidcover; do not place them on the pure ground. 7. Avoid the exposure of larvae or brood from draft and sunlight, avoid robberies by other bees. If the inspection takes place during the day, the inside of the hive should not be exposed to the sun longer than necessary. Weaker colonies should be inspected prior to strong colonies to avoid robbing.
