Summer Beekeeping Guide

What's Happening in the Hive

Summer is a tale of two seasons: abundance and scarcity, often separated by just a few weeks.

Early summer (the flow):

• Colony reaches peak population (50,000-60,000 bees)
• Foragers work overtime collecting nectar
• Honey production is in overdrive
• Swarm impulse decreases as bees focus on foraging

Late summer (the dearth):

• Major nectar sources dry up
• Competition for remaining resources intensifies
• Robbing behavior increases—bees steal from other colonies
• Queen reduces laying in response to reduced income
• Varroa populations peak while bee populations decline

The summer flip: In many regions, July starts with abundance and ends with scarcity. This transition catches many beekeepers off guard.

Early Summer (June): The Main Flow

June is when beekeeping feels magical. Your bees are bringing in nectar faster than they can store it, and the hive practically hums with productivity.

Signs of a good flow:

• Fresh white wax on comb edges
• Heavy traffic at the entrance
• Nectar droplets visible in open cells
• Distinctive "honey smell" around the hive
• Bees seem calm and focused (too busy to be defensive)

Mid-Summer (July): Harvest Time

July is often harvest month in most of North America. The spring/early summer flow has been capped, and you can pull honey supers.

When to harvest:

• When frames are 80%+ capped (honey is ripened)
• BEFORE you apply August mite treatments
• Ideally before the dearth starts (robbing makes harvest messy)

July priorities:

• Pull honey supers for extraction
• Leave enough for bees (they need stores for the dearth)
• Monitor for signs the flow is ending
• Plan your August mite treatment

Late Summer (August): The Critical Month

Why August matters: Starting in late August/early September, your colony begins raising "winter bees"—physiologically distinct bees with enhanced fat bodies and longer lifespans (4-6 months vs. 4-6 weeks). These bees must survive until spring.

If Varroa mites are present when winter bees are being raised, those bees will be virus-compromised and die mid-winter. By the time you see symptoms (January dead-out), the damage was done in August.

Managing the Honey Flow

Your job during the flow is simple: give them space and get out of the way.

Super management rules:

• Add early: Put supers on before they're needed. A colony can fill a super in a week during a strong flow.
• Don't let them get honey-bound: If the brood nest gets backfilled with honey, they'll swarm—even in June.
• Check weekly: Quick glances to verify they have space. No need to dig into the brood nest.
• Use queen excluders (optional): Keeps brood out of honey supers but can reduce super usage. Personal preference.

How many supers? It depends on your flow strength. Most hobbyists need 1-3 supers per strong colony. During exceptional flows, 4-5 isn't unheard of.

The Summer Dearth

The "dearth" is the period when nectar sources dry up—usually late July through August in most areas (earlier in the South, later in the North).

Signs of dearth:

• Bees become more defensive (less food = more protective)
• Increased interest in your soda cans and fruit
• Robbing behavior—bees fighting at the entrance, dead bees
• Bees inspecting other hives, probing for weak spots
• Queen laying slows dramatically

Heat Stress and Water

Bees maintain the hive at 95°F (35°C) regardless of outside temperature. In hot weather, this takes significant effort.

How bees cool the hive:

• Foragers collect water and spread it on comb
• Workers fan at the entrance, creating evaporative cooling
• "Bearding" at night—bees cluster outside to reduce internal body heat

How you can help:

• Provide water: A reliable source within 100 yards. Add floating objects so bees don't drown.
• Ventilation: Prop up the outer cover slightly or use a ventilated inner cover
• Shade (maybe): Afternoon shade helps in extreme heat. Morning sun is still valuable.
• Don't over-insulate: Remove any winter wrapping by late spring

Bearding is normal: On hot nights, bees cluster at the entrance. This isn't swarming—it's air conditioning. They'll return inside when it cools.

Summer Mite Management

Varroa populations double every 3-4 weeks during brood season. A colony that started spring with 50 mites can have 3,000+ by August.

Summer monitoring schedule:

• June: Alcohol wash. Threshold is 2-3% (6-9 mites per 300 bees)
• July: Alcohol wash. Plan your treatment strategy.
• August: TREAT. Don't wait for another count. Treat before winter bees are raised.

Treatment timing:

• Harvest honey FIRST (remove supers)
• Apply treatment immediately after harvest
• Complete treatment by early September in most regions

Good options for August:

• Formic Pro: Penetrates caps, works fast. Watch temperature limits (<85°F).
• Apivar: No temp limits, 6-week treatment. Check for resistance in your area.
• Apiguard: Thymol gel. Organic option. Needs warm temps to work.

Harvesting Your Honey

Harvest day is the payoff for all your work. Here's how to do it right:

How much to leave: In northern climates, colonies need 60-90 lbs of honey for winter. Don't get greedy—a dead colony produces no honey next year.

Summer Beekeeping Checklist