Hive management
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Chetblong
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Reverted 1 edit by [[Special:Contributions/81.154.214.69|81.154.214.69]] identified as [[WP:VAND|vandalism]] to last revision by [[User:Shoefly|Shoefly]]. using [[WP:TWINKLE|TW]]
'''Hive management''' is a term used in [[beekeeping]]. The term describes all the intervention techniques a beekeeper may perform to ensure hive survival and to maximize hive production. Hive management techniques vary widely depending on the objectives. The most common objectives are:
==For honey production==
The dependent factors for [[honey]] production are the duration and timing of the [[honey flow]] in a certain area. Duration and timing of a honey flow may vary widely depending on local predominant climates, weather during the honey flow and the [[nectar source]]s in the area. Good honey production sites are the far northern latidues. In the summer, as days grow longer, bees can fly and forage for longer hours increasing the production. Migrating [[beekeeper]]s also take advantage of local bloom of agricultural plants or wild flowers and trees. In mountainous regions a beekeeper may migrate up the mountain as the spring and summer bloom progresses.
It has been shown, that a larger bee colony will produce relatively more honey. Therefore the early buildup and [[Feeder (Beekeeping)|spring feeding]] and subsequent prevention of [[swarming (honeybee)|swarming]] are of high priority. Several different methods such as the [[Demaree method]], [[Checkerboarding]] and opening up the brood nest have been advocated to prevent swarming.
===Techniques to maximize extracted honey production===
Once a good location for an apiary is selected, techniques under the control of a beekeeper for maximizing extracted honey production depend mostly on maximizing the number of foraging bees at the peak time of the honey flow. Techniques may include interrupting brood production right before the main honey flow to free up nurse bees for foraging.
A main objective is to prevent swarming.
===Techniques to maximize comb honey production===
Comb honey production requires many of the same techniques that are required for the production of extracted honey. In addition, the colony must be very strong and have comb building traits. [[Honeycomb]] for direct consumption as [[comb honey]] is always created the same year it is harvested.
Honey combs may also be harvested by crushing the comb and squeezing out the honey. This is the lowest cost method of producing honey. Keepers of the low-cost [[top-bar hive]]s use this technique to harvest honey. The technique may also be used for the frames of [[Langstroth hive]]s. The so called [[cut comb]] are sections of sealed honey comb that are cut out of the frame. If the cut comb is to be consumed not crushed only the purest [[beeswax foundation]] may be used.
====Techniques for maximizing Ross rounds and cassette production====
*Killion Method
*Juniper Hill Method
*Crowding
*Shock Shook Method
==For pollination==
see [[pollination management]]
===Techniques for maximizing [[agriculture|agricultural crop]]s pollination===
see:
*[[Pollinator decline]]
*[[Pesticide toxicity to bees]]
*[[Buzz pollination]]
==For [[queen breeding]]==
===Techniques to maximize open [[mating]]===
Techniques to maximize open mating of [[virgin queen]]s center around having [[Drone (bee)|drone]]s of a desired parentage saturate a [[queen mating yard]].
===Techniques to maximize [[artificial insemination]]===
Artificial insemination of honeybee [[queen bee|queens]] is a process used for very [[selective breeding]] of [[List of honeybee races|honeybee races]]. In the open mating of queens the source of drones cannot be fully controlled. In artificial inseminaton the source of drone [[sperm]] can be fully controlled and be more predictively selected than in open breeding.
==For pollen production==
[[Pollen]] is one of the byproducts of the hive. Pollen collection is usually not the main management objective. Pollen is collected by installing a [[pollen trap]] at the entrance of the bee hive. There are varying designs for pollen traps. The pollen trap makes access to the hive harder for the foraging bees. In the process of climbing through the pollen trap wires some pollen is loosened from the bee's [[pollen basket]] and falls into a collection container. Varying recommendations describe leaving the pollen trap on for a few days or for more extended periods. Pollen collection works best in an area with various [[pollen source]]s throughout the year.
Fresh pollen can be frozen or dried. It is used for human consumption or fed back to the colony in early spring to speed up brood production.
==For propolis production==
[[Propolis]] is another byproduct of the bee hive. Certain races of bees are more prone to using propolis. Propolis can be collected on special plastic propolis screens. The tendency of the bees is to use propolis as a glue to seal openings that are too small for a bee to crawl through. A propolis screen is usually put in place of an inner cover. It has small openings that are propolized by the bees. The propolis screen can be frozen which hardens the propolis. Once the propolis is frozen it can be easily knocked off and collected.
Bee races that propolize heavily are usually not desirable as it makes other hive manipulation more difficult. There is only a limited market for propolis.
==For beeswax production==
[[Beeswax]] may be a major product or a minor byproduct.
The management technique that yields the highest amount of wax per hive is the [[top-bar hive]]. During the harvest of the [[honey]] from top-bar hives the whole [[honey comb]] is removed and crushed to extract the honey.
The commercial honey producers use [[Langstroth hive]] [[frame (beehive)|frames]]. The honey extraction process yields beeswax from the uncapping process. The highest quality beeswax is almost white. Lower quality beeswax from older cappings or comb is yellow or brown. Beeswax should be rendered and filtered before it is sold.
The least amount of beeswax that can be used as such, is produced in Ross rounds or cassette type [[comb honey]] production. Wax and honey are not separated and are consumed together. <br>
Tha ability and tendency to build wax comb differs between the [[List of honeybee races|honeybee races]]. It also differs between colonies. A newly hived [[swarming (honeybee)|swarm]] produces wax and builds [[brood comb|comb]] very quickly.
==For royal jelly production==
The production of [[royal jelly]] is most dependent on the proper genetics of the queen. Queens and drones are selectively bred to increase the production of royal jelly. A good yield per hive is 5 kg per year.
==For apitoxin production==
Bee venom ([[apitoxin]]) is obtained by stimulating the bee with an [[electrical current]] that incite them to sting, releasing a drop of poison onto a glass slide. The crystallized venom can be collected and processed. In order to get 1 gram of dry venom, it is necessary to collect the apitoxin of 10,000 to 15,000 bees.
===Sources===
*[http://www.breyer.ind.br/apicultura/apicultura_apitoxina-i.htm Breyer & Cia Ltd.] [[Brazil]], accessed 05/2005
*[http://www.apifarma.com.uy/obtaining_methods.htm Apifarma, Obtaining methods] [[Uruguay]] accessed 05/2005
==For bee brood production==
[[Bee brood]] as such is generally not a commercial commodity. However, bee brood is edible, and is used as a food in [[Asia]] and [[Africa]].
===Source===
The Food Insects Newsletter Vol.3 Number 3, November 1990 [http://www.food-insects.com/Vol3%20no3.htm]
==For the production of nucs==
Hive management techniques to multiply colonies use the bees natural tendency to swarm by simulating a swarm. [[Nuc]]s are bought and sold usually in the spring time. The advantage to packaged bees is that the bees are on established frames with a laying queen and developing brood. A fast developing nuc can be transferred to a full hive box and may produce honey in the same year.
===Walk-away split===
In a walk-away split, frames with eggs and worker bees are removed and the bees will create a queen cell out of a suitable egg. Once the queen hatches, successfully mates and returns to the hive, the hive will be queenright.
===Cut down split===
==For bee package production==
Packaged bees with a caged [[queen bee|queen]] are usually shipped in the spring from regions of mild winter climates to areas that have more severe winters.
[[Category:Beekeeping]]