In addition to periodic apiary inspections, which are normally done without opening the hive, the beekeeper must sometimes resort to opening the hive and removing frames to solve problems that only an internal inspection can address. Opening a hive should be avoided as much as possible, as it disrupts brood production and foraging activities and it kills bees. However, it may become necessary for several reasons:
You need to feed the colony
Honeybee colonies should be fed at various times, and some feeding procedures require that you open the hive.
Disease or major pest invasions are suspected
If you smell an unpleasant or foul odor in the apiary, one or more of your hives may be afflicted with American foulbrood disease. If you notice signs of small hive beetle (SHB) infestation, such as a decayed-orange smell (fermenting honey), you may need to open the hive to determine whether SHBs have taken up residence. If you see brown streaks at the entrance of the hive, the bees may be suffering from dysentery, which can result from several harmful conditions. If you notice cocoons or web-like material, the hive could be undergoing a major wax moth invasion, especially if the hive is weak.
Foraging activity is very low with a good nectar source
When you know abundant sources of nectar are available, but the bees are not foraging at normal levels, their field bee population may be significantly reduced. Normal levels of good-weather foraging for a healthy, populated hive are indicated by a bee-landing frequency of approximately one per second or more, on average. A new colony, however healthy, will have lower foraging activity because of their lower than normal population. Low foraging activity for a mature hive could indicate several conditions, including tracheal mite infestation, hive weakness after swarming, or a general malaise because of other occurrences that have stressed the colony. Note: any colony that is being fed supplemental syrup and pollen will forage dramatically less than normal. If you are feeding a colony, do not be concerned about lower foraging activity.
Many dead brood or weakly crawling bees are observed in front of the hive
Large numbers of dead adult bees around the entrance of the hive may indicate starvation or severe tracheal mite infestation. Weak bees crawling on the landing platform or in front of the hive, especially with K-configured wings, may also indicate the bees are afflicted with tracheal mites. Many larvae or pupae discarded in front of the hive could be an indication of a major varroa mite infestation.
The colony is new, and requires progress checks
After a new colony is introduced into an empty hive body from a package or a swarm, you should open and inspect the hive after the first two weeks. This will tell you the condition of the colony, especially the queen, so you can correct any problems problems you find early enough to ensure the colony is successful later in the year.
The hives have been physically disturbed
Hives that have been opened, moved or turned over (by someone or something other than the beekeeper) obviously require immediate attention.
Swarm control methods have been recently performed
If you have taken certain measures to control swarming, such as elimination of queen cells, replacement of the queen, or addition of brood chambers, you need to inspect the hive in another week to see if there are additional signs of a tendency to swarm.
You are introducing or have recently introduced a new queen
The queen should be replaced in each hive every two years to keep a honeybee colony healthy and productive. The queen may also need to be replaced at an earlier interval if she is weak (produces little brood). She should be replaced immediately if she is missing or is a drone layer, which means she is infertile.
The hive must be opened to remove the weak queen and reopened 24 hours later to introduce the new queen. And the hive should be opened and inspected one week after a new queen is introduced to determine whether she was accepted by the colony and whether she is laying an adequate quantity of eggs.
A major honeyflow has transpired, and you suspect the bees need more room
After or during a major honeyflow, the colony may run out of room to store the surplus honey, which could prompt them to swarm. You may need to open the hive and inspect it, adding extra honey supers if needed.
The summer or fall honeyflow has occurred, and you may need to harvest
You should monitor the degree to which the bees have filled the honey supers following the major summer or fall honeyflows. If the supers are full of capped honey (no uncapped cells), they should be removed and the honey extracted as soon as possible.
Feeding and Watering
Periodic Apiary Inspections
Opening and Inspecting the Hive
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