This isn't California
Beekeeping in South Florida is both rewarding and challenging. The region's subtropical climate, diverse flora, and year-round warm temperatures create an environment where honeybees can thrive. However, these same conditions also present unique challenges that require beekeepers to adapt their management practices to ensure the health and productivity of their hives.
We have struggled to establish a consistent cadence of honeybee management and development practices. While the fundamentals of honeybee animal husbandry are uniform, the day-to-day practices are very different in South Florida. Our hives in California thrived, following a consistent expand-and-hibernate cycle that produced consistently high yields of quality honey while keeping hive collapse and loss to a minimum. This has not been the case in Florida.
Our initial investment in our Florida apiary resulted in a total loss. We had 13 hives (yeah, I should have known to get 14) in place before Hurricane Ian hit the region. The flooding on our property decimated the apiary, and I spent the next two months collecting woodwork from as far as 1/3 of a mile away.
We received a grant from the Florida Farm Bureau to help offset our financial losses, and I am forever grateful to them. This allowed us to buy replacement nucs and re-establish our apiary on a smaller scale. The results have been mixed.
The Climate: A Double-Edged Sword
South Florida's climate is one of the most defining factors in beekeeping. The region’s warm temperatures and high humidity support a long flowering season, which means bees have access to nectar and pollen almost year-round. This extended foraging period can lead to increased honey production compared to more temperate regions.
The climate also drives the bees to produce year-round. There is no dormant season when the honeybees go quiet over the winter.
However, the climate also brings challenges. The summer months can be intensely hot and humid, stressing the bees and beekeepers alike and making hive management more difficult. Beekeepers must ensure their hives are well-ventilated and shaded to prevent overheating. Additionally, the region's wet season, which runs from May through October, can cause issues with hive moisture levels. Excessive moisture can lead to mold growth and increase the risk of diseases like chalkbrood and nosema.
Dealing with Africanized Honeybees
One of the most significant challenges in South Florida is the presence of Africanized honeybees, often called "killer bees." These bees are a hybrid of European and African honeybees, and they are known for their aggressive behavior. Africanized bees are more likely to defend their hive with more stings and pursue perceived threats for longer distances. We have not experienced aggressive Africanized bees, and it is worth noting that in South America, these honeybees are the primary producers of commercial honey.
If there is a threat from Africanized bees, I think our approach would be to eliminate them. We generally take the same approach with aggressive bees, re-queening to reset the hives. We have been fortunate to find honeybee breeders that specialize in propagating gentle bees and these queens pass on temperate throughout the hive.
Pest and Disease Management
Pest and disease management is a critical aspect of beekeeping in South Florida. The warm climate and high humidity create ideal conditions for pests like Varroa mites, small hive beetles, and wax moths. Varroa mites, in particular, are a significant concern as they weaken bees by feeding on their blood and spreading viruses.
Effective mite management is essential to maintaining healthy colonies.
Beekeepers must regularly monitor their hives for signs of pest infestation and use integrated pest management (IPM) strategies to control these threats. This might include mechanical methods, such as screened bottom boards to reduce mite populations, and chemical treatments when necessary.
If I think back on our experiences with hive loss, the single biggest pest we have struggled to deal with is ants. We have experimented with hive placement, different hive stands, and ground treatments. Ground treatments are not practical, given the regular rain events we receive. Hive placement is trial and error, and we have found no pattern for success. Hive stand design shows the most promise, with successful designs limiting pathways for ants, burning off scent trails, and creating barriers.
Hive Management and Swarming
South Florida's long foraging season can lead to rapid colony growth, which increases the likelihood of swarming. Swarming occurs when a colony becomes overcrowded, and a portion of the bees leave to form a new hive. While swarming is a natural process, it can be problematic for beekeepers, who lose a significant portion of their bees and honey production.
To prevent swarming, beekeepers need to manage hive space carefully. This involves regularly inspecting hives and adding additional supers (hive boxes) as needed to provide enough space for the colony to expand. Beekeepers may also split hives to reduce the risk of swarming by creating a new colony from an existing one.
Swarming in most regions of the country happens at predictable times of the year, giving beekeepers a calendar to work with. In South Florida, swarming is a year-round activity. We have had limited experience with swarming, given our lack of apiary success it is a problem we would like to have, but feedback from other beekeepers confirms that this is unpredictable and random.
Honey Harvesting and Marketing
Harvesting honey in South Florida presents its own set of challenges. The region's high humidity can make it difficult to properly cure honey, which must have a moisture content of 18% or less to prevent fermentation. Beekeepers may need to use dehumidifiers or other methods to ensure their honey is correctly cured before extraction.
Marketing honey in South Florida is also unique due to the diverse range of floral sources available. Beekeepers can produce a variety of honey types, such as orange blossom, wildflower, and mangrove honey, each with its own distinct flavor profile. Understanding the local market and consumer preferences is key to successfully selling honey and other bee products.
Conclusion
Managing honeybees in South Florida is a complex and rewarding endeavor. Beekeepers must navigate the challenges posed by the region's climate, pests, and Africanized bees while capitalizing on the opportunities provided by the extended foraging season and diverse floral sources. We will continue working through the challenges as we develop strategies and techniques for managing a thriving apiary.
We especially thank the Beekeepers Association of Southwest Florida, which has been a vital resource to us, and we appreciate the entire membership.
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