Seasonal Activity Guide for Beekepers
This month-by-month guide is designed to help recreational and training beekeepers follow best practices throughout the seasonal cycle. Use it for workshops, field-based training, or personal hive management. It includes hive care, swarm prevention, and disease management tips with seasonal cues for South Australian conditions.
Adapted from materials by Robert Beer.
JANUARY
Hive Management
- Avoid disturbing bees on hot days.
- Provide shade and ventilation.
- Continue supering/extracting if flow persists.
- Freeze supers/frames to manage wax moth.
FEBRUARY
Hive Management
- Watch for robbing during weak flows.
- Melt clean cappings in solar wax melter.
MARCH
Hive Management
- Prepare for autumn/winter transitions.
- Reclaim supers, freeze unused equipment.
- Cull failing queens; unite weak hives.
- Ensure brood boxes have sealed honey and pollen.
Disease Management
- Conduct full disease inspection.
APRIL
Hive Management
- Inspect for a viable queen and clean floors.
- Confirm 15 kg of honey in brood box.
- Scrape excess wax from frames.
Disease Management
- Verify hive is disease-free before winter.
MAY
Hive Management
- Winter down: reduce to 5 brood + 5 honey frames.
- Remove unused supers to conserve heat.
- Install entrance guards if needed.
JUNE
Hive Management
- Do not open hives unnecessarily.
- Lift back of hive to check weight.
- Minimal bee activity: only defecation flights.
Maintenance Tasks
- Assemble new frames/supers.
- Repair and paint equipment.
- Melt old comb and reclaim wax.
JULY
Hive Management
- Maintain strong healthy hives.
- Observe activity at hive entrance on fine days.
- Prepare for an early or late season start — stock frames, supers, foundation.
- On Adelaide Plains, hives may already be active.
AUGUST
Hive Management
- Check and clean hive floors.
- Use hive mats for insulation.
- Be ready to replace 1 brood frame.
- Watch for cold weather impacts on brood.
First Hive Inspection
- Estimate amounts of sealed/unsealed honey and brood.
- Check for eggs, larvae, and pollen varieties.
Swarm Control
- Look for drone cells and queen cells.
- Prevent loss of foragers due to early swarming.
Disease Management
- Shake bees off frame and inspect cappings.
- Look for perforated, sunken, or discoloured brood cells.
- Check for signs of Nosema (defecation).
SEPTEMBER
Hive Management
- Complete first hive inspection.
- Replace second brood frame if needed.
- Monitor weather forecasts and food stores.
Second Hive Inspection
- Track expansion in brood and pollen.
- Note queen laying performance.
Swarm Control
- Inspect every 10 days.
- Split hives in swarm mode.
OCTOBER
Hive Management
- Replace third brood frame as needed.
- Add honey super if necessary.
- Continue monitoring queen performance and brood expansion.
Third Hive Inspection
- Look for expanded brood in new frames.
- Watch for fresh nectar and pollen stores.
Swarm Control
- Stay alert for imminent swarming.
NOVEMBER
Hive Management
- Maintain 7–8 frames of brood.
- Under-super with second honey box.
- Rotate frames for wax quality and clean honey extraction.
Swarm Control
- Continue managing swarm behaviour.
Disease Management
- If spring was wet, a third disease check may help.
DECEMBER
Hive Management
- Hives should peak in population.
- Requeen if necessary during flow.
- Under-super and extract full supers.
- Ensure continuous access to water.
Swarm Control
- Remain vigilant for swarming.
Need help managing your hive?
Book a one on one support session or enrol in a Beekeeping course.
