maximizing your colonies for honey production · 2017. 4. 9. · namely, the production of a crop...
TRANSCRIPT
Maximizing Your Colonies for Honey Production
Jamie Ellis, PhD
University of Florida
Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory
A
A
B
B
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
plan
ts in
blo
om
Seasonal nectar availabilitySeasonal nectar availability
300 Ft.300 Ft.
Animals will minimize foraging distances.
500 Ft.
Competition increases coverageCompetition increases coverage
start
finish
start
finish
Animals (especially generalists) will forage at the richest available patches.
+ summer titi and mountain laurel
yellow jessamine = dead queen cells
Foraging regulation
Forager collects nectar
Hive bee rapidly relieves her
Forager collects nectar again
Top vs. bottom supering?