From: mailto: It is May and Warm! — Finally 😃 - Honey-Bees Love It!

Below find May and June excerpts from the Cornell University Beekeeping Calendar (We find it to closely follow beekeeping here in Central Indiana)

Newer Beekeepers: Keep feeding packages and nucs until they are well established Be sure bees have adequate volume to expand Avoid “Backfilling”: - When bees run out of room for nectar, they will “backfill” into the brood area - This leads to less egg-laying, and potential swarming Add second deep once there is some activity on all frames Simply beginning to draw out wax counts as “activity” If using mediums, consider adding two You do not have to see the Queen - Presence of eggs or small larvae means she is there Queen cells (Swarm cells) and Drone Cells Drone cells are “dome shaped” and often very numerous Queen cells are larger, “peanut shaped” Usually only 1 to 3 present Typically on bottom edge of brood frame Link illustration https://www betterbee com/instructions-and-resources/drone-cells-queen-cells-differences asp

Happy Beekeeping