It is all about the weather when it comes to managing bees in March. I have seen March weather disappoint me many times. We are most likely thinking of things we can do such as make splits, prevent swarms, try to raise queens or get ready for a honey crop. All I can say is you have to work out what is best for your location.
This I know: If I lost a colony this past winter, I have a supply of drawn comb and maybe some capped honey that will be useful to start a new one. The colonies that survive will require attention and this is where weather conditions affect how you manage your bees. March brings on the rainy season in many parts of the country and warmth enough to encourage plant growth, which results in a period of rapid bee population increases.
Regardless of where one lives, management of a hive will depend on what the bees are doing. When the bees begin to find pollen and nectar on foraging flights, a burst of energy seems to be released within the hive. Honey bees are guided by thousands of years of survival based on famine and death. In his book “The Life of the Bee,” Maurice Maeterlinck asks: “What is the aim of their life, or its pivot?” He adds, “In spring bees lose patience and are vibrating waves bubbling and overflowing like a brazen cup beneath an ardent sun.” I have paraphrased this line a bit, but the point is, honey bees wait for no one. They are in the process of expanding the brood nest and storing honey. Procrastination on the part of the beekeeper does not hurt a colony, the bees will likely swarm and follow the natural course of what they have done for millions of years.
Managing bees for human gain requires work to reach human goals. We have learned that proper management can be rewarding both for bees and for us. Honey bees are seasonal insects and, like silkworms, can be managed for products they produce. There is a long list of issues that need to be addressed to be successful. A firm understanding of biology is the foundation …
