Varroa Counts and Honey Stores Evaluation

Name: Varroa Counts and Honey Stores Evaluation
Start: 2025-09-13T09:00:00-04:00
End: 2025-09-13T12:00:00-04:00
Location: Boulder Knoll Bee Yard

Sat, Sep 13

Boulder Knoll Bee Yard

In this workshop, we’ll consider colony size, determine if the honey stores are sufficient, and, if not, how to feed to increase stores.

Varroa Counts and Honey Stores Evaluation

Time & Location

Sep 13, 2025, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM EDT

Boulder Knoll Bee Yard, 875 Boulder Rd, Cheshire, CT 06410, USA

Event Details

In this workshop, we’ll consider colony size, determine if the honey stores are sufficient, and, if not, how to feed to increase stores. Varroa populations are beginning to peak, so we will see if this year's varroa counts follow the uptick in numbers observed in previous seasons. September is an excellent time to consider combining colonies. We will discuss how to combine colonies and, more importantly, how to choose the proper ones for the best chance of survival.

Participant preparation:

Research feeding options.
Research how varroa roll counts can grow in fall.

Led by Bill Hesbach, CBA President

Bill is an Eastern Apicultural Society Certified Master Beekeeper, graduate of the University of Montana's master beekeeping program, and president of the Connecticut Beekeepers Association. He teaches bee biology and various beekeeping methods, and appears as a guest speaker at local and regional beekeeping seminars. Bill has been published in Bee Culture, Bee Craft, and The American Bee Journal, and was presented the Distinguished Speaker Award at the 2019 EAS conference. Special interests include bee biology and flight, and the connection between local flora and bee behavior.

IMPORTANT: All participants at our bee yard activities or any other CBA-sponsored event involving live bees must bring their own personal protective equipment designed specifically for beekeeping. Participants are responsible for ensuring they have complete coverage of bare skin with light-colored clothing (nothing black) and must wear a proper bee veil or bee suit and closed-toed shoes at all times. Bees sting and inject venom, so if you are concerned about your reaction, please consult a physician before attending.

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All participants at our bee yard activities or any other CBA-sponsored event involving live bees must bring their own personal protective equipment designed specifically for beekeeping. Participants are responsible for ensuring they have complete coverage of bare skin with light-colored clothing (nothing black) and must wear a proper bee veil or bee suit and closed-toed shoes at all times. Bees sting and inject venom, so if you are concerned about your reaction, please consult a physician before attending.