The activity and number of workers are most likely at their highest potential during May and early June. The nectar flow in our coastal plain is beginning to slow down. Warmer dryer weather is upon us. May is normally the driest month of the year for the SC coastal plain. Most colonies are no longer building out foundation to store nectar.

The queen is beginning to slowly reduce the number of eggs she lays everyday. Soon the number of bees in the colony will slowly decline. There may be swarms generated depending upon conditions in the hive. Those conditions will vary from colony to colony and are dependent upon queen health, parasite pressure, weather, and other environment conditions that impact the colony.

Beekeepers will be taking excessive honey stores from the colony beginning in early June through late June. This is the best time to take the honey harvest. Nectar flows are greatly diminished and hive populations are declining leaving the honey stores vulnerable to Small Hive Beetle attack.

After the honey harvest beekeepers will be, if weather conditions permit, applying a series of Oxalic Acid treatments (one every 7 days for 21 days) or other select treatment methods to reduce Varroa mite populations and the risk of the virus they carry that can destroy the hive. Varroa mites populations have been growing over the last three months. In addition there will be a need to control Small Hive Beetle populations, a threat to colony survival.

Honeybees will continue to bring in nectar and pollen but will have to search longer distances and have less flowering plants to choose. Summer temperatures will increase at the end of June creating conditions for even less flowering plants.

Overall many pollinators will be present...bumblebees, flies, hummingbirds, butterflies along with other insects all competing with honeybees for nectar and pollen.

If you planted annuals to help supply food for our pollinators...

Thank you

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