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Care of the Honeybee Packages
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Honeybees are usually transported in wooden 2 to 5 pound screened packages, which contain approximately 6,000 to 15,000 bees each. Proper care must be taken to ensure the honeybees (and especially the queen) survive until you install them into their new hive. The honeybees have already been stressed in transportation from their original apiary to yours. You may notice up to an inch of dead bees on the floor of the package. This is normal, and results from the death of older or weaker bees due to the temperature and feeding hardships of transportation.

Once you receive your packages, your goal should be to minimize any further death or weakening of the bees in the new colony by observing the following steps.

	Installation task
	Choose the right storage location The new package should be stored in a cool, dry and darker location, such as a storage room, pantry or closet. Preferably, store the package in an air-conditioned (but not refrigerated) room. Your goal here is to minimize the bees' activity, which conserves their strength and prolongs their lifespan. Bees become very active naturally when they have a strong light source, such as sunlight coming through a window. And their activity generally increases with temperature. So, keep them cool and calm as much as possible.
	Feed the bees syrup Honeybee packages may be stored several days before installation if you feed the colony in the meantime. Although each package is shipped with a can of sugar syrup, many bees in the cluster hanging around the queen cage do not have access to this syrup. So, spray the exterior of the package with a 1-to-1 sugar-water solution at least twice a day, but not more than four times per day.
	Don't delay the installation Each day you wait to install the packages in their hives is a day without proper nutrition and a day for more weak bees in the packages to die. Prepare the apiary and hives as quickly as possible, preferably before you even receive the packages. Plan your schedule in advance so you'll be able to visit the apiary and install the packages as soon as possible. Never delay installing the packages more than 3 days after their receipt, and 3 days is stretching it.

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