The entrance of the apiary should face the south so that bees can wake up to the warm morning sunshine.

A full ten frame box may become heavy, weighing up to 60 lbs.

American foulbrood (AFB) and European foulbrood (EFB) are bacterial diseases that affect the developing stages, or brood. AFB is the most serious of these diseases. This disease is extremely contagious and can remain dormant on beekeeping equipment and in honey and combs for many years.

When approaching the hive, walk up from the back. Approaching from the front, through the bees’ landing zone, breaks the flight pattern of the bees, making them aggressive. Removing the Covers

To field test for AFB, you can pierce it this mass with a stick. When the stick is withdrawn, the substance inside will rope out up to one inch if AFB is present. An infected, dead larvae becomes a hardened black mass on the bottom of the cell floor. These cells are difficult to remove and can trigger additional infection. Colonies with high levels

This is because smoke disrupts bees’ communication.

A screen bottom board is recommended in order to provide better ventilation for your hive as well as to allow for hive debris to fall out of the bottom of the hive.