Some have mentioned not receiving the minutes and/or meeting announcements. Please make sure to add this email address to your address list and make sure you mark it as not spam. I am also not going to include pictures in with the emails to help them go through easier. If you would like to see pictures from the meeting, please look at the website: https://transylvaniacountybeekeepersassociation.com. I will post photos there.
For the following people, I received an undeliverable email message: 451 4.7.1 74.125.82.193 You have exceeded your messaging limit. Please try again later. I am assuming their mailboxes are too full to receive emails? If you know the individuals, please let them know. If there is someone who has passed away, no longer keeping bees in our area, etc., please let me know and I will remove their name from the address book. Thank you!
Cliff Price
Larry Gasperson
Mark Habel
Mary Caldwell
Thank you to Rosemary for doing the following minutes from our last meeting!
Summer in the Bee Yard
Presenter: Devin Gentry
Devin opened by reminding attendees that beekeeping is a hobby—and for some, a business—filled with mistakes, but that’s often how the best learning happens.
Devin has been beekeeping for 19 years. He started with two hives, both of which died during their first winter. His second set of hives survived, and he began catching swarms and making nucs. Today, he manages approximately 200 hives spread throughout Transylvania County, from Rosman to Asheville. He operates a queen-rearing program, makes and sells nucs, and focuses primarily on honey production.
Hive Health
Beekeepers should prioritize good hive health. During inspections, look for:
- Plenty of calm, active bees moving throughout the hive
- A solid brood pattern
- A queen laying consistently
- Emerging brood
- Adequate stores of pollen, nectar, and capped honey
Pollen provides protein, while nectar and honey provide carbohydrates. Both are essential for maintaining healthy colonies. If resources are lacking, supplemental feeding may be necessary.
If you remove the hive cover and notice bees that are sluggish or inactive, consider the possibility of a virus. Inspect bees closely for signs such as deformed, curled, or chewed-looking wings.
Sample for Varroa mites in both spring and fall, and treat when necessary. Varroa mites are commonly spread through drone populations.
For beekeepers with a small number of hives, drone brood trapping frames can be an effective management tool. Once the drone brood is capped, remove the frame and freeze it to kill mites before returning it to the hive.
Understand the various mite treatment options and how they may affect honey production. Always wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when applying treatments.
Recommended Resources
- Honey Bee Health Coalition website for information on mite monitoring and treatment options.
- Randy Oliver’s website, Scientific Beekeeping, for research-based articles, videos, mite sampling methods, and pollination studies.
Swarm Prevention
Swarming is a natural process that occurs when colonies become overcrowded, run out of space, or have an aging queen.
During inspections:
- Ensure colonies have adequate room for expansion without providing excessive empty space.
- Check for backfilling in brood frames.
- During heavy spring nectar flows, workers may begin storing nectar and pollen in the brood nest when supers become full.
To reduce swarming pressure:
- Add additional space by rotating or adding boxes.
- Ensure center brood frames contain eggs and larvae.
- Place drawn comb adjacent to the brood nest, with pollen and honey stores toward the outside frames.
- If colonies remain crowded, consider making a split.
Queen Issues
Evaluate queens by observing whether they are laying a consistent brood pattern.
In general, Devin recommends requeening annually, particularly for colonies that require mite treatments twice per year, as treatments can place significant stress on queens.
Beekeepers should know the age of each queen. In spring, queenlessness is common due to swarming or supersedure events.
When inspecting hives, take care not to injure the queen while removing or replacing frames. One option is to safely cage the queen during inspections and release her afterward.
Also watch for signs of laying workers, which may indicate a queenless colony.
Honey Production
The wildflower honey flow is currently strong and is expected to taper off by mid-June.
Sourwood bloom typically begins in late June or early July. Honey harvest generally occurs between late July and early August.
Have a Game Plan
Ask yourself: What is your purpose in beekeeping?
Successful beekeepers should:
- Understand honey bee biology and developmental timelines
- Know the timing for egg development, queen cell emergence, and mating
- Keep detailed records for each hive, including inspections and treatment history
Most importantly, enjoy the craziness of beekeeping!
Hope to see you at our next meeting on June 16, 2026, 6:30 pm to socialize. The official meeting begins at 7 pm: 106 E. Morgan St. Brevard, NC.