Scientific and Seasonal Management of Apis mellifera Colonies

The foraging activity of honey bees depend on the availability of bee flora and the prevailing climatic conditions, and both of these are defined for a particular season round the year i.e. summer, monsoon, autumn, winter and spring. The period when surplus bee flora i.e. source of nectar and pollen, is available for the bees to forage is known as honey flow season. In contrast, dearth period is marked by scarcity of bee flora. During extreme climatic events like scorching summer, freezing winter and monsoon, certain specific management tactics are required to maintain and safeguard the colonies in an apiary. The main aim is to prevent the colonies from collapsing, strengthen them to perform better and make beekeeping a profitable business. Beekeepers can maintain high performance level of colonies in terms of honey and other hive products by adopting suitable seasonal management tactics and maximize production. So, the basic principles behind seasonal management are: Ensuring adequate population of foragers in the hive at the right time for the collection of surplus nectar and pollen, providing space for storage of floral rewards i.e. nectar and pollen and ripening of nectar into honey, extracting honey from hive at the right time and strengthening and preparing the colonies to withstand any period of dearth and menace of bee enemies.