Bee Talks Recap | June 2025
- Connecticut Beekeepers Association
- 6 hours ago
- 2 min read
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In this episode of Bee Talks, we cover what’s blooming now and how to track it using our Bloom Calendar and new Bloom Tracking Tool. We answer listener questions about sac brood, extended spring flows, and whether single brood management works in 8-frame deeps. We also discuss bee behavior like drinking from dirty water, using temperature sensors, and what to expect when scout bees check out your swarm trap. Other topics include testing for EFB and AFB, preventing bees from storing honey under gable roofs, and how to clean up after a hive loss due to small hive beetles.
In this episode of Bee Talks:
00:00:00 - Welcome & Bloom Calendar
00:13:45 - Bloom Tracking Tool
00:23:23 - Can you discuss sac brood? Does it always have a pointed end sticking up?
00:24:55 - Are we currently experiencing an extended spring flow?
00:26:23 - Additional Bloom Discussion
00:27:55 - Temperature Sensors are helpful as a new beekeeper
00:29:07 - Why do bees seem to drink from dirty water instead of clean sources?
00:33:16 - Is single brood management feasible with an 8-frame deep?
00:35:39 - I made a swarm trap, and see activity. Assuming these are scout bees, how should it be before a colony moves in? How long do I have after they move in before I move it to a permanent location?
00:42:41 - Where can we get EFB and AFB test kits?
00:45:47 - Our hive has a gable roof, the bees have been drawing and storing honey up there. How can I keep them from doing this?
00:47:19 - I lost a hive to small hive beetle infestation. What’s the process for cleaning out the boxes?
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Each session includes an open question & answer period followed by a seasonally-appropriate topic discussion to help guide you through the beekeeping year. Open to every beekeeper regardless of experience or the type of equipment you use, these sessions will support your beekeeping practice and help you get the critical information you need to be successful.
Bee Talks are led by Bill Hesbach, Eastern Apicultural Society Certified Master Beekeeper and graduate of the University of Montana's Master Beekeeping Program. He teaches bee biology and beekeeping methods at events hosted by regional organizations, and appears as a guest speaker at national seminars. Bill is on the Board of Directors for the Eastern Apicultural Society, and is President of the Connecticut Beekeepers Association. His articles appear in Bee Culture, Bee Craft, and The American Bee Journal.
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