Bee Talks Recap | September 2025
- Connecticut Beekeepers Association
- 31 minutes ago
- 3 min read
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In this episode of Bee Talks, we discuss the Bloom Calendar and dive into some common beekeeping questions. Should you leave a honey super on over winter? How does excessive mowing affect our pollinator friends? Can you salvage frames damaged by wax moths? We also chat about small hive beetles, the best way to reduce hives for wintering, and when new beekeepers should order nucs and equipment.
Plus, we talk about the risks of not removing uneaten beetles, feeding swarms, the perfect time to install robbing screens, and using beetle traps all year round. We share our thoughts on Apimaye hives and the best timing for treatments with Formic Pro or oxalic vapor. Finally, we remind everyone to register their hives.
In this episode of Bee Talks:
00:00:00 - Welcome & Bloom Calendar
00:11:15 - Can I leave on honey super on over winter?
00:15:58 - Can we do anything about excessive mowing of fields and public areas and how it affects pollinators?
00:20:00 - Can I save frames that had wax moth damage, or do I have to throw them away?
00:25:00 - Let’s talk about small hive beetles…
00:35:30 - How can I reduce my hive down to one single deep for over wintering?
00:38:59 - I’m starting beekeeping in the Spring - when should I order nucs and equipment?
00:41:50 - What happens to the uneaten beetles if you don’t get rid of them, and how does it affect the honey?
00:44:56 - I caught three swarms and having been feeding - one is eating and one is ignoring. Why?
00:48:42 - When is the best time of day to put on robbing screens?
00:53:52 - Should I keep beetle traps in my hive all year long or place them according to specific times of year?
00:56:58 - Has anyone tried the Apimaye hives? What are your opinions?
01:03:00 - Is now a good time to treat with Formic Pro or oxalic vapor?
01:05:00 - Time to register your hives!
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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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