Month by month

Beekeeping in August

When you do open up in August, you are looking for capped supers to take, mite drop, and wasps at the entrance.

Can I inspect my bees in August?

Yes, on warm settled days: a full inspection needs 15 °C or more, dry, and wind under 22 km/h, between 9am and 6pm. Bees are defensive in August, so avoid thundery weather and keep the hive open as briefly as you can.

Jobs for August

• Harvest. Supers off, then varroa treatment straight away: thymol needs warm days (15 to 30 °C).
• Reduce entrances: wasps are at their worst. Unite weak colonies rather than nurse them.
• Yellow-legged (Asian) hornet watch: report anything hawking at the entrance.
• Do not inspect in thundery weather; bees are at their most defensive in August.