Prepare Smoker, Veil, and Inspection Log
10 minutesLight smoker with cool white smoke fuel, don veil and gloves, and open inspection notebook before approaching hive.
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Bee Health Inspection Guide
Complete guide for bee health inspection — step-by-step workflow, tools, checklist, and expert tips to get started.
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Workflow
Evaluate Brood Pattern and Queen Evidence
20 minutesScan frames for solid compact brood, eggs standing upright, larva swimming in royal jelly, and appropriate drone ratio.
Perform Varroa Mite Count
15 minutesRun alcohol wash or powdered sugar roll on 300 bees from brood frame; record mites per 100 bees against treatment threshold.
Log Findings and Plan Interventions
10 minutesRecord brood quality, stores, mite count, and queen status; schedule treatment, feeding, or queen replacement as needed.
Tools Used
- Brood Frame Percentage CalculatorPrimary
Calculate brood frame coverage percentage to assess queen productivity and colony expansion rate.
- Varroa Mite Threshold CalculatorPrimary
Compare mite count results against seasonal treatment thresholds for your region and colony size.
- NotepadSupporting
Maintain inspection log with brood quality, mite counts, and queen status for trend analysis.
- Smoker Fuel Burn Rate CalculatorReference
Estimate smoker fuel needed for full inspection to avoid running out mid-hive.
Checklist
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Safety
Equipment
Inspection
Health
Pest Management
Documentation
Reference Materials
Healthy vs Problem Brood SignsTable
Visual indicators during routine inspections.
| Sign | Healthy | Problem |
|---|---|---|
| Brood pattern | Solid compact arc | Spotty pepperbox |
| Egg orientation | Standing upright | Absent or sunken |
| Capped brood | Tan flat cappings | Sunken perforated cappings |
| Mite count | < 2 per 100 bees spring | > 3 per 100 — treat |
Varroa Treatment ThresholdFormula
Treat when alcohol wash count ≥ 3 mites per 100 bees in spring or ≥ 5 per 100 in late summer.
Inspection FrequencyStandard
Routine inspections every 7–10 days during swarm season; monthly mite counts minimum year-round in active seasons.
Eggs Equal Queen
Fresh eggs confirm queen presence without finding her — saves time on every inspection.
Alcohol Wash Accuracy
Alcohol wash is more accurate than sugar roll — sacrifice 300 bees for reliable mite data.
Hot Smoke Kills
Blast of hot smoke kills bees on contact and enrages the colony — puff cool smoke only.
Safety Notes
- Always wear a veil and gloves — even docile colonies can become defensive.
- Carry an epinephrine auto-injector if you have any history of allergic reactions to stings.