Best Beekeeping Practices for Connecticut

This document is not intended as legal advice based on Federal, State or Local laws. It is only to provide guidance to beekeepers on proper practices in maintaining their beehives so that they will not create a nuisance. It may provide information to officials who are willing to work with local beekeepers so that the needs of all residents can be met. We hope that this will provide a basis for local municipalities to create reasonable codes that serve everyone’s needs. Also, this should provide reassurance to the public that their neighbor’s activities do not pose a hazard or threat.

Successful Beekeeping consists of several fundamental elements for the health and wellbeing of honeybee colonies, as well as co-existing with neighbors.

The primary directive of this best beekeeping practices for Connecticut to new beekeepers is to take whatever steps are necessary to prevent their bees from becoming a nuisance to others.

Definitions

Hive – One colony of bees, with one queen. It can range in size from one box to many boxes in height.

Super – A hive box.

Apiary – A place where beehives are kept.

Beekeeping – The management and stewardship of honeybees.

Swarm – A natural process by which honeybees divide their colony to reproduce. Half of the bees stay

with the old queen and half move to a new location.

Nucleus colony or Nuc – A 4-5 frame starter colony that is used to establish new colonies or replace

colonies that have died over the winter. It consists of an accepted, laying queen on drawn foundation.

State Regulations

The State of Connecticut requires that all beekeepers register their hives with the State Entomologist by October 1 each year (sec.22-89). There is no fee. It provides beekeepers access to free inspections and advice from the state inspector. The primary reason for registration is so that if there is a problem in an area, the bee inspector can inform the beekeepers in that area so that they can take steps to protect their bees. Registration is due annually on October 1st. Information on registration, as well as a list of registered beekeepers is available here: http://www.ct.gov/caes/cwp/view.asp?a=2818&q=376964.

Education

Successful beekeeping requires continuing education. Beginning beekeepers need instruction in how to manage their colonies. Knowledge of bees and management is important to avoid creating a nuisance through ignorance of honeybee behavior and to help ensure the survival of the colony.

It is recommended that beginning beekeepers attend a bee school prior to obtaining their first colony of bees. Bee Schools are offered by the Connecticut Beekeepers Association in January and February. Additional practical workshops, as well as seminars on beekeeping are offered throughout the year. Other beekeeping organizations with in the state of Connecticut also offer bee schools and workshops. Consult their websites for more information.

At the end of this document there is a suggested reading list for further education. The magazines listed are recommended for continuing education and the latest information on bee management and health. Neighborhood outreach – Beekeepers should let their neighbors know that they plan to set up a honeybee colony or apiary in the vicinity. Answering their questions will help alleviate their concerns. Being knowledgeable of and following the best beekeeping practices below will help a beekeeper minimize any impact on neighbors. It is important to educate your neighbors as to the differences between honeybees and aggressive insects, such as wasps and hornets. Stress that honeybees are not aggressive.

Hive Placement

Hives should be placed away from roads, walkways or rights of way. They should be placed in a quiet part of a yard. Basically, they should not be placed near any location with there is human or pet traffic. Hives should be placed facing into the hive owner’s property. If placed near a property line, there should be either a fixed wall or a dense vegetative barrier, of at least 6 feet in height, between the hives and the property line. This forces the bees to fly up high rather than low across a neighbor’s yard.

Hive Density

It is recommended that a new beekeeper start with two hives. Two hives are easily manageable at any level of management experience. Two hives also provide the new beekeeper with a basis of comparison between them.

Urban neighborhoods – There are many examples of bees being managed in urban settings, even in New York City. The more developed an area is, the more a beekeeper must be attentive to his bees.

Below are suggestions for apiary density based on lot sizes:

Lot sizes of ¼ acre* or less: up to two colonies and up to two nucleus colonies.
Lots of ¼ acre to ½ acre should limit the number of colonies to no more than 4 colonies and up to three nucs.
Lots of ½ acre to 1 acre should limit the number to 6 colonies and up to four nucs.
Lots greater than 1 acre will not be limited as long as the guidelines on hive placement are followed.

*1 acre = 43,546 square feet or a block 208.7 x 208.7 feet

Limitations will not be imposed under the following two conditions:

If the hives are situated 100 feet from a property line.
If the adjoining property is undeveloped land.

Colony Management

Responsible beekeeping requires the beekeeper to open and inspect the hives. In urban areas, the beekeeper should be mindful of proper times/conditions for opening a hive. Care should be taken to not induce defensive behavior in a colony. Smoke should be used when opening a colony. Protective gear should be worn in case a frame of bees is dropped or some other action incites defensive behavior. Hives should not be opened on excessively hot days, on rainy days or on days when a line of showers are moving through which is causing the barometric pressure to drop. These conditions can incite defensive behavior.

The beekeeper should be considerate of the neighbor’s activities and plan his/her beekeeping around their activity. Beehives should not be opened when close neighbors are having a party, conducting outdoor activities or mowing their lawns. Hive manipulations, such as honey removal should be coordinated with neighbor’s activities. Being considerate of neighbors and mitigating any annoyance before it happens is the goal of responsible beekeeping.

Other important hive management duties (described in detail below) are:

Swarm mitigation
Water sources
Queen management
Disease and parasite control
Nutrition

Swarm Mitigation

Swarming is a natural process where a colony divides itself to reproduce. Swarms are NOT dangerous. Honey bees are not defensive when they are swarming because they do not have a home or honey to defend.

A beekeeper can reduce the likelihood of swarming through careful management of the hive. Adding additional supers or boxes during the hive’s build up period in the spring reduces crowding in the hive and lessens the urge to swarm. Replacing a failing queen can also reduce the urge to swarm. Reversing the hive body boxes allows more room for the brood nest, reduces congestion and the urge to swarm. Splitting the hive and creating a nuc is a simulated method of swarming, which alleviates crowing pressure in the brood nest.

If these methods are unsuccessful, it is the beekeeper’s responsibility to deal with the swarm. Swarms that gather high up in a tall tree are too dangerous to collect due to the height. They should be allowed to move on to a new location on their own. Swarms that gather at a low height should be collected immediately. Beekeepers should always have spare equipment available to catch a swarm. If a swarm gathers in a neighbor’s yard, the beekeeper should first ask permission to enter the neighbor’s yard to collect it. Reassuring the neighbor that the swarm is not dangerous and having spectators stay back a safe distance while collection is underway will help things go smoothly

Captured swarms should be considered nucs for purposes of hive density.

Water Sources

Lack of water during the summer can create a nuisance for neighbors if there is not a local, natural water source. Honeybees have been known to drown in neighborhood swimming pools and clog filters. If is recommended that beekeepers provide a local water source. This can be a birdbath with floating pieces of wood. Water fountains, flower pot bases filled with marbles and water, all provide sources of water for honey bees.

Queens

Hive temperament is mostly determined by the genetics of the queen. By nature, honeybees are not aggressive. They are defensive. When a honey bee stings it dies, so under normal circumstances, they will not sting unless threatened. Colonies that exhibit signs of aggressive behavior when not provoked should be re-queened, which should mitigate the aggressive behavior.

Local sources of queens provide better chances of successful colony overwintering due to the queens being more acclimated to the local environment.

Young queens are more vigorous and produce more pheromones, which decreases swarming. Beekeepers should regularly evaluate their queen for temperament and brood laying quality.

Desirable characteristics of a queen include:

gentle disposition
brood viability
low swarming instinct
colony build up
disease and pest resistance
pollen hoarding

Disease and Parasite Control

Hives should be monitored for disease, particularly mites. Workshops are available to train beekeepers in the identification, recognition and responsible remediation of diseases and parasites. Knowing how to measure mite levels in a colony is necessary for its survival. There are a number of methods of remediating mites including Integrated Pest Management (IPM) or application of miticides. If miticides are used, follow the label directions for application. Each product/method of mite control has different efficacy, partially due to when they are applied. Some treatments must be applied within certain temperature ranges or they risk not killing the parasitic mites, or possibly killing the bees. Other

treatments are only effective when the colony has no brood. Mites must be controlled or your colony will die. Learn how to determine your mite load.

Identification of and treatment for other diseases should be learned at workshops or from reliable sources. To prevent the transmission of diseases, use extreme care when using second hand beekeeping equipment.

Nutrition

Only excess honey should be taken from a hive. Due to the short honey producing season in Connecticut, ensuring that colonies have enough honey to overwinter can be challenging. Honey should be pulled in late summer or fall and the hives should be fed throughout the dearth (summer period without good nectar sources). With a constant nectar source, the tendencies for robbing can be reduced and the aggressive behavior associated with robbing can be avoided. A colony with adequate fall stores is more likely to survive the winter. Workshops are also available on fall preparations for beekeepers.

Summary of Best Beekeeping Practices in Connecticut

The public at large do not understand that honey bees are not aggressive. You are their voice an advocate. Be outgoing, answer questions. Conduct talks in your towns. Keep learning to be a better beekeeper.