{"id":20022,"date":"2026-02-19T10:06:15","date_gmt":"2026-02-19T09:06:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beefeed.com\/api-of-the-month-43\/"},"modified":"2026-02-19T10:06:19","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T09:06:19","slug":"api-of-the-month-43","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beefeed.com\/en\/api-of-the-month-43\/","title":{"rendered":"API of the month"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Mathieu DOMECQ<\/strong>R\u00e9dacteur en chef de l\u2019API du mois et du Blog<\/em><\/p>\n\n

In March, French beekeeping enters a decisive phase. While the media reports annually on winter colony losses and growing concerns in the beekeeping world, work in the apiary resumes in earnest. After several months of discreet monitoring and limited intervention, it is time for initial assessments and important technical decisions.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

This month, we will focus in particular on the spring inspection, a key step in assessing the condition of colonies at the end of winter, as well as cleaning and sanitising hives in the event of losses. These practices, which are essential but often underestimated, enable beekeepers to start afresh on a sound footing and largely determine the success of the coming beekeeping season.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

\"Mathieu<\/figure>\n\n\u00a0\n\n

Tasks of the month<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

In March, life in the hive and the beekeeper’s work gradually resume. Although nature still seems to be asleep at times, the bees are already active and searching for the first sources of pollen. The colony slowly becomes more dynamic, marking a pivotal period that requires careful monitoring. Here are the main tasks to be carried out in the apiary during this month:<\/p>\n\n

Monitor the brood\/reserve balance<\/strong>: Observing all the frames allows you to assess the colony’s dynamics. A well-developed colony generally has a balance of between three and five brood frames and three to five food frames (honey and pollen). If the reserves appear insufficient, a supplement such as Apiinvert\u00ae syrup can be considered. If an insulating partition was installed at the end of winter, it should be moved or removed when it is no longer necessary, particularly when the colony lacks space to develop.<\/p>\n\n

Supporting the resumption of egg-laying<\/strong>: A moderate supply of Apiinvert\u00ae syrup can stimulate this resumption and promote the gradual increase in brood. This stage is strategic: the eggs laid at this time will give forager bees around forty days later. It is therefore essential to plan ahead in order to have a sufficient population during the major spring honey flows, particularly those from rapeseed and acacia.<\/p>\n\n

Getting started in beekeeping<\/strong>: March marks the real start of the first beekeeping season. It is the ideal time to learn from a teaching apiary or an experienced beekeeper, and to reserve your swarms, which are generally available between April and May. Hives must already be ready to welcome colonies: cleaned, protected with suitable paint and equipped with waxed frames.<\/p>\n\n

This month’s honey plants<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

Willow (nectar and pollen), dandelion (pollen and nectar), rapeseed (nectar), fruit trees (pollen).<\/p>\n\n

Read more on page 2<\/a><\/p>\n\n\u00a0\n\n\n\n

The Spring Visit<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

The spring visit is the first time the hives are opened after winter. It is an essential step in the beekeeping calendar, as it allows the beekeeper to assess the actual condition of the colonies and lay the foundations for the coming season. In regions with milder winters, March marks the gradual reawakening of nature: temperatures begin to stabilise and the queen resumes egg-laying. However, this period remains delicate, with sometimes unstable weather and colonies that are still fragile, requiring short, thoughtful interventions at the right time.<\/p>\n\n

Before opening the hive, observing it from the outside already provides valuable information. Regular activity at the flight board, particularly pollen collection, indicates that egg-laying has effectively resumed. A clean flight board, without any abnormal accumulation of waste, is generally a sign of an organised and dynamic colony. These initial indicators allow you to anticipate the state of the colony and adapt your visit accordingly.<\/p>\n\n

The hive should only be opened when weather conditions are favourable, ideally when temperatures are between 15 and 17\u00b0C and there is no wind. The behaviour of the bees is an important indicator: excessive aggression may indicate that the hive has been open for too long, that the temperature is too low, or that the bees are stressed due to a lack of resources. Above all, the spring inspection should be quick and focused.The main objective is to carry out an inventory of the colony. This involves checking for the presence of the queen, either directly or by observing recent egg-laying, assessing the quality of the brood and counting the number of brood frames in relation to honey and pollen frames. This balance between population, brood and reserves is crucial to the dynamics of the hive.<\/p>\n\n

\"A
A well-organized setting, with its brood in the center and honey on the periphery.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

March is often a critical period in terms of reserves. The resumption of egg laying increases consumption, while external resources are still irregular. If necessary, supplementary feeding can be considered, in the form of remaining candy or, depending on the situation, light syrup or protein supplements. However, any stimulation must remain measured and justified.<\/p>\n\n

It is also important to take into account the immediate environment of the apiary. Observing local blooms, such as goat willow, early fruit trees or rapeseed, allows you to anticipate the arrival of natural resources that can quickly stimulate colony development. Finally, the spring visit is the ideal time to check the quality of the queen, the regularity of her egg-laying and her general condition, as a productive queen in spring is a key factor in the success of the beekeeping season.<\/p>\n\n

What should I do if my hive is dead?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

When a hive dies during the winter, it is important not to leave it as it is, but there is no need to burn everything or start from scratch. A dead colony does not mean that the equipment is lost, provided that it is thoroughly cleaned and repaired.<\/p>\n\n

The first step is to remove all the frames. These are often colonised by wax moths, recognisable by their silky webs and gnawed wax. Although this can be alarming, it is a common occurrence after the death of a colony. However, the affected frames must be destroyed, ideally by burning, in order to eliminate any source of contamination. It is strongly recommended that you start again on a clean slate by replacing these frames with new ones fitted with wax foundation sheets.<\/p>\n\n

Once the frames have been removed, the hive itself must be thoroughly cleaned. Using a frame lifter, all wax bridges, propolis residues and other impurities inside the hive should be scraped off. This mechanical cleaning should be supplemented by lightly passing a blowtorch over the internal walls to sanitise the wood. This operation eliminates any remaining germs and parasites while preparing the hive to welcome a new colony.<\/p>\n\n

The feeder must also be cleaned thoroughly. If it is made of plastic, washing it with hot soapy water is sufficient. If it is made of wood, the same scraping and blowtorching procedure can be applied.<\/p>\n\n

\"With
With linseed oil or coloured oil, protect your hive from the outside!<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

This refurbishment is also an opportunity to protect the hive in the long term. External maintenance of the wood is recommended, either with a suitable paint or linseed oil. It is important to remember that only the outside of the hive and the floor should be treated: the inside is naturally protected by the bees thanks to propolis. The paint used must be food-grade paint, available from beekeeping shops, so as not to pose any risk to future colonies. In addition to protecting the wood and extending the life of the hive \u2014 often more than ten years \u2014 the paint makes it possible to visually differentiate between hives, which helps the bees to find their way around and limits drift.<\/p>\n\n

For those who prefer a more raw and natural look, linseed oil is an effective alternative. It should preferably be applied warm so that it penetrates the wood better and does not feel greasy to the touch. However, it should be borne in mind that linseed oil changes the appearance of the hive over time: the wood develops a patina and tends to darken gradually.<\/p>\n\n

A properly cleaned, sanitised and protected hive can thus be reused safely and accommodate a new colony in good conditions.<\/p>\n\n

As usual, share your photos with us: we’ll post them on our website from the social networks with the hashtag: #apifonda #apiinvert!<\/p>\n\n

See you next month on your API blog with your faithful partner, Les Ruchers De Mathieu!<\/p>\n\n

\"LES<\/figure>\n\n

LES RUCHERS DE MATHIEU<\/strong>Miellerie & Magasin d\u2019Apiculture<\/p>\n\n

Photos \u00a9lesruchersdemathieu<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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