Bee Talks with Bill Hesbach • March 2026

In this episode of Bee Talks, we cover fall Varroa treatments, feeding and robbing prevention, local bloom tracking, BroodMinder hive monitoring, winter honey stores, insulation, and hive configuration, along with practical tips for helping Connecticut colonies make it through the colder months.⁠More about the episode + links >

In this episode of Bee Talks, we discuss the threat of yellow-legged hornets and what Connecticut beekeepers should know as we head into fall. We look at what’s blooming now and how hive sensors and Broodminder data can help you better understand what’s happening inside your colonies. We also get into winter preparation, including single versus double deeps, reconfiguring hives, and setting up an Apimaye hive to run condensing. We work through what to do with a queenless colony while waiting for a possible new queen, talk about resource hive management, and wrap up with hive registration reminders, hornets, and fall swarms.⁠More about the episode + links >

In this episode of Bee Talks, we look at what’s happening in Connecticut apiaries as summer begins to shift toward fall, including current blooms, honey production, and what beekeepers should be watching for next. We discuss spotted lanternflies and the potential impact of honeydew on honey, along with the importance of keeping an eye out for the invasive yellow-legged hornet. We answer questions about chronic bee paralysis virus, what to do when a swarm builds comb before you have frames ready, and why keeping extra equipment on hand can save you some serious work. We also get into varroa management and several current treatment options, moving colonies when some bees insist on returning home, and even whether an electric smoker is really an improvement over the traditional kind.⁠More about the episode + links >

In this episode of Bee Talks, we answer practical questions that many beekeepers face as colonies reach their peak summer population. We discuss when to replace older nuc frames, how oxalic acid treatments fit into hive inspections and honey harvesting, and why monitoring for varroa is important even when you don’t see mites. We also cover feeding during nectar dearths, knowing when to add honey supers, relocating or selling hives, managing heavy hive inspections, recognizing when robber screens are needed, and whether neighboring colonies drift between hives.⁠More about the episode + links >

In this episode of Bee Talks, we focus on managing colonies during swarm season and making practical decisions as hives continue to grow. We discuss what happens inside a colony before and after a swarm, including the role of drones, managing the remaining hive, and evaluating queen cells. We also talk about feeding strategies, when it makes sense to stop feeding, and simple ways newer beekeepers can rebalance colony strength. The conversation covers moving hives, testing and treating for varroa, and whether keeping a bottom board insert in place affects temperature regulation.⁠More about the episode + links >

In this episode of Bee Talks, we cover a wide range of spring management questions, from handling newly caught swarms and treating broodless colonies to feeding packages and timing supers. We talk about simple approaches to splitting hives for newer beekeepers, how long it takes queens to begin laying after a split, and practical ways to spot your queen during inspections. The discussion also touches on nectar flow tracking, hive entrances, swarming behavior, and how weather affects nectar availability, along with a few real-world troubleshooting questions from the bee yard.⁠More about the episode + links >

In this episode of Bee Talks, we focus on early spring hive management and how to respond coming out of winter. We talk through what to do after losing a colony, including cleanup, frame, and equipment reuse. We cover adding supers, whether to reverse deeps, and how to think about equalizing or splitting colonies as populations build. We also discuss considerations like dysentery and Nosema, common causes of sudden colony loss, and how to set up new hives for success. The episode also touches on greenhouse beekeeping, winter heating questions, and practical ways to reduce drifting between colonies…⁠More about the episode + links >

In this episode of Bee Talks, we focus on what to pay attention to as colonies come out of winter and start building into spring. We talk about when it actually makes sense to feed, what to look for before adding syrup, and how to approach mite treatment and use as colonies expand. We also cover when it’s safe to move hives, how to avoid setbacks when relocating colonies, and how tools like thermal monitoring can help you better understand what’s happening inside the hive. We answer some practical questions on winter losses, reversing deeps, and whether painting a swarm box a different color affects your bees in any way…(spoiler: nope).⁠More about the episode + links >

In this episode of Bee Talks, we get into how to keep an eye on your bees when you can’t open the boxes. We talk about using thermal cameras in winter, how to read hot and cold spots on hives, what cluster position really tells you, and why brood nests often restart around the winter solstice even when it still feels cold outside. We discuss broodless colonies, late season drones, and what those clues say about queen status heading into spring. We talk through Norroa™ as a new tool in the varroa toolbox, how it differs from other treatments, where oxalic acid vaporization and dribble fit in, and why insulation and reduced ventilation can change how much honey a colony needs to get through the winter.00:00:30 - Can I use thermal camera for winter monitoring (and which kind should I use)?00:08:30 - Can a virgin queen overwinter in a colony, and will there be laying workers in the Spring?00:14:50 - Why would a colony swarm in September?00:16:38 - Is it normal to still see drones this late in the season?00:18:20 - To put a bear fence up, I have to move my hives - What’s the best way to do this?00:20:30 - Do we have feedback on local (Connecticut) efficacy of Norroa™ treatment?00:28:21 - Does temperature determine how much oxalic acid should be used in a treatment?00:31:15 - Are queen deaths associated with oxalic acid treatments?00:32:45 - Has oxalic acid changed dosage?00:33:31 - Will workers reseal their chamber if I break the seal?More about the episode + links >__________________________________________________________Connecticut Beekeepers Association promotes and supports beekeepers and their local organizations. Our goal is to provide a common forum for the beekeepers of Connecticut to come together to share information and ideas.

In this episode of Bee Talks we discuss how to read winter hive temperature data, decide if colonies are broodless, set realistic honey store targets, time oxalic vapor and Norroa™ treatments, and insulate colonies for year-long health.More about the episode + links >