Beekeeper's Everyday Toolkit | APiLOG
A practical field reference for hobbyist and experienced beekeepers. Quick-scan tables, charts, and checklists — keep it open during hive inspections.
Brood Development Cycle
Day-by-day breakdown from egg to emerging adult. Useful for timing inspections and identifying delays in development.
Queen
Total: 16 days| Stage | Days | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Egg | 0–3 | Laid in queen cup |
| Larva | 4–7 | Fed exclusively royal jelly |
| Pupa | 8–15 | Capped, rapidly develops |
| Adult | Day 16 | Emerges, mates within days |
Worker
Total: 21 days| Stage | Days | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Egg | 0–3 | Tiny white egg upright in cell |
| Larva | 4–9 | Fed royal jelly, then bee bread & honey |
| Pupa | 10–20 | Cell capped, metamorphosis |
| Adult | Day 21 | Emerges as fully formed worker |
Drone
Total: 24 days| Stage | Days | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Egg | 0–3 | Larger cells, unfertilised eggs |
| Larva | 4–9 | Similar feeding to workers |
| Pupa | 10–23 | Capped, develops into drone |
| Adult | Day 24 | Emerges as drone |
Seasonal Hive Management Calendar
- Inspect for winter losses and dead-outs
- Feed 1:1 syrup if stores are low
- Check for a laying queen
- Begin swarm management as population grows
- Add supers early if nectar flow is starting
- Monitor brood pattern weekly
- Add honey supers to prevent crowding
- Inspect for and remove queen cells
- Check for Varroa mite levels (sugar roll / alcohol wash)
- Ensure adequate ventilation and water source
- Harvest honey — leave at least 60–80 lbs / 27–36 kg for winter
- Treat for Varroa before brood ceases
- Feed 2:1 heavy syrup to build stores
- Reduce hive entrances to deter robbing
- Combine weak colonies if needed
- Minimal disturbance — avoid opening hives below 50 °F / 10 °C
- Check ventilation to prevent moisture buildup
- Monitor stores via heft test or window
- Emergency feed fondant/candy board if needed
- Plan next season equipment and splits
Sugar Syrup Feeding Guide
1 : 1
Stimulates brood production. Use warm water to dissolve sugar fully.
1 : 1
Optional during a strong nectar flow. Avoid if bees are foraging well.
2 : 1
Builds winter stores. Feed before temperatures drop below 50 °F / 10 °C.
Hive Inspection Checklist
Work through this checklist on every visit. Tap items to mark them complete.
Queen & Brood
Colony Health
Stores & Space
Swarm Prevention Checklist
Swarming is natural but manageable. Use this interactive checklist during the season.
Common Pests & Disease Quick Reference
| Pest / Disease | Risk | Identification | Treatment / Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Varroa Mite | High | Tiny reddish-brown mites visible on adult bees and pupae. Deformed wing virus is a sign. | Oxalic acid (broodless period), Apivar strips, HopGuard, or biotechnical methods (drone comb removal). |
| Wax Moth | Medium | White webbing and tunnels through comb. Larvae visible, frass in tunnels. | Remove and freeze infested comb. Maintain strong colonies — bees police weak infestations. |
| American Foulbrood | Critical | Sunken, perforated cappings. Brown, ropy larva. Distinct sour smell. Matchstick test: sticky string. | Notifiable disease in many regions. Mandatory burn of infected equipment. No chemical cure. |
| European Foulbrood | Medium | Twisted, discoloured larvae in uncapped cells. Sour odour. No ropiness on matchstick test. | Requeen with hygienic stock. Improve nutrition. Oxytetracycline in some regions (check local regulations). |
| Nosema | Low–Medium | Dysentery streaks on hive exterior. Weak spring colony. Confirmed by microscope. | Hygienic management, fresh comb rotation. Fumagilin-B where available. Good nutrition. |
| Small Hive Beetle | Medium | Small dark beetles (5–7 mm) scurrying from light. Slimy, fermented honey. Larvae in comb. | Beetle traps with oil. Reduce hive space. Maintain strong colony. Soil treatments near hive. |
Varroa Mite Counting & Tolerances
Treatment Thresholds
Monitor closely. Consider biotechnical controls (drone comb removal).
Action threshold — treat promptly. Infestation can double in 3–4 weeks.
Treat immediately to protect overwintering bees. Winter bees are long-lived and critical.
Oxalic acid treatments are highly effective broodless. Treat at first opportunity.
% infestation = (mites counted ÷ bees counted) × 100. Thresholds are general guidelines — always check your regional beekeeping association for local recommendations.
Counting Methods
- Collect ~300 bees (approx. ½ cup) from the brood nest into a jar — avoid the queen.
- Add isopropyl alcohol (70%) or methylated spirit until bees are submerged.
- Seal and shake vigorously for 60 seconds.
- Pour through a mesh screen into a white tray.
- Count mites visible in the liquid.
- Divide mite count by number of bees × 100 to get % infestation.
Bees do not survive. Most accurate method — gold standard for monitoring.
- Collect ~300 bees into a jar with a mesh lid.
- Add 2 tablespoons of icing/powdered sugar.
- Shake and roll the jar for 60 seconds to coat all bees.
- Let sit for 1–2 minutes.
- Shake mites out through the mesh onto a white sheet or tray.
- Count fallen mites. Divide by bee count × 100 for infestation %.
Bees survive and can be returned to the hive. Slightly less accurate than alcohol wash — mites may not dislodge fully.
- Insert a sticky board (corflute sheet coated with petroleum jelly or Vaseline) under an open mesh floor.
- Leave in place for 24–72 hours.
- Remove and count all mites on the board.
- Divide total mites by number of days to get a daily mite drop figure.
No bees are harmed. Useful for trend monitoring but not a precise infestation rate. Seasonal temperature affects drop rate.
- Collect ~300 bees into a clear jar.
- Administer a short burst of CO₂ gas to anaesthetise the bees.
- Roll jar on a white surface — mites dislodge and are visible.
- Count mites, then calculate % infestation as with alcohol wash.
Bees survive but are temporarily immobilised. Requires a CO₂ source. Less common for hobbyists.