Devo alimentar todas as colmeias em setembro?

Não. Primeiro, avalie as reservas, a força da colónia e a disponibilidade de alimento na região. A alimentação suplementar deve responder a uma necessidade real e seguir as instruções do produto utilizado.

Quando devo monitorizar a Varroa?

A monitorização deve integrar o maneio regular e não depender apenas de uma data. O período após a colheita é especialmente importante para avaliar a pressão do parasita, planear o controlo e verificar a sua eficácia.

Posso aplicar um tratamento com alças melárias na colmeia?

Depende exclusivamente das condições autorizadas para o medicamento. Consulte o rótulo e o Resumo das Características do Medicamento e respeite as restrições relativas ao mel, à temperatura, à criação e ao período de aplicação.

Devo reduzir a entrada da colmeia em setembro?

A redução pode ser útil quando existe risco de pilhagem, pressão de vespas ou uma colónia com menor capacidade de defesa. A decisão também deve considerar o calor, a ventilação e o movimento das abelhas.

Como sei se as reservas são suficientes?

Avalie a quantidade e a distribuição dos quadros com alimento e acompanhe o peso e o consumo da colmeia. Como as necessidades variam consoante o clima e a região, procure apoio local se ainda não tiver experiência para estimar as reservas necessárias.

Beekeeping in September: Preparing Hives

Beekeeping in September: How to Prepare Hives for Autumn

September is a transitional month in the apiary. The main honey harvest may be coming to an end, but there are still important decisions to make so that each colony enters autumn with a balanced population, adequate food stores and Varroa pressure under control.

The timetable should be adapted to the region, altitude, weather and available forage. In warmer, drier parts of Portugal, activity may continue for longer, while in other areas brood rearing and nectar flows begin to decline earlier. The condition of the colony, rather than the date alone, should therefore guide your work.

To place these tasks in the context of the rest of the season, read our year-round beekeeping guide. You can also find beekeeping supplies and equipment for inspecting, feeding and preparing your hives.

1. Assess the strength of each colony

Begin by assessing each colony individually. Two hives in the same apiary can have very different needs. Record what you find so that you can compare progress during later visits.

The number of bees and how many frames they occupy well.
The presence, distribution and appearance of the brood.
Signs that the colony is queenright, even if you do not see the queen.
The amount and distribution of honey and pollen stores.
Signs of disease, parasites, wax moth, robbing or predation.
The condition of the frames, floor, roof and other hive components.

A very weak colony, irregular brood pattern or low food stores require an early decision. Delaying the assessment until cold weather arrives will reduce your management options. If you are unsure, ask a local beekeeping association or an experienced adviser for help. You can also read our guide on how to maintain a healthy beehive.

2. Check food stores before feeding

After the honey harvest, make sure that the colony has been left with enough food. Avoid removing honey that the bees will need during periods with little or no forage. The appropriate quantity is not the same throughout Portugal: it depends on the length of winter, the local climate, colony strength and available autumn forage.

Supplementary feeding should not be automatic. It should address an identified need and use an appropriate product, quantity and timing. Browse our selection of bee food and choose from our hive feeders. Different capacities include the low plastic feeder for 1 kg and the plastic feeder for 2 kg.

How to reduce the risk of robbing

Avoid spilling feed around the hives.
Do not leave honey frames or open containers in the apiary.
Keep inspections brief and do not leave a hive open unnecessarily.
Adjust the entrance when colony strength, robbing or wasp pressure makes this advisable.
Make sure the feeder is stable and does not leak.

3. Monitor Varroa and check whether control has been effective

Varroa levels should not be assessed only by occasionally looking for mites on adult bees. Use a consistent monitoring method, record the results before and after control measures, and compare changes between colonies. Our article on Varroa monitoring explains the main methods and precautions.

The timing and product used will depend on the infestation level, the presence of brood, temperature, whether honey supers are fitted and the medicine's instructions. In Portugal, use only veterinary medicines authorised for bees, purchase them from authorised outlets and follow the relevant label and Summary of Product Characteristics strictly. Do not use homemade remedies, improvised formulations or products outside their authorised conditions.

Consult the latest DGAV guidance on bee diseases and Varroa control. If you belong to a beekeeping organisation or your apiary is in a controlled area, follow the health plan and treatment periods established for your location. Abadia Rural supplies beekeeping treatment accessories, but the selection and use of veterinary medicines must always comply with official guidance.

4. Adjust the space and prepare the hive entrance

As the population begins to decline, excessive empty space becomes more difficult for the colony to defend and regulate. Remove only the supers that are no longer required and check that the frames left in the hive are in good condition. Arrange the hive so that food stores remain accessible to the bees without unnecessarily disturbing the brood nest.

Review the entrance as well. A smaller opening may help a colony defend itself against robbing and predators, but adequate ventilation remains important. The zinc summer/winter hive entrance allows the opening to be adjusted for seasonal management.

5. Check ventilation, moisture and protection

Before the first autumn rains, check that the roof is secure, that there are no gaps and that water can drain away without entering the hive. The hive should be raised off the ground and protected from accumulated moisture without removing the ventilation it needs.

Do not try to compensate for structural problems by closing the hive too tightly. The aim is to find the right balance between protection, ventilation and the colony's ability to defend itself, taking account of the hive design and local climate.

6. Clean, repair and organise equipment

September is also a good time to organise equipment that is no longer in use. Set damaged frames aside, store supers where they are protected from wax moth, clean tools and check the condition of your protective clothing. Cleaning hive floors, boxes and tools is part of good apiary health management.

Keep a record for each hive covering inspections, feed supplied, monitoring results, treatments and any changes observed. These records support better decisions and help you confirm whether your actions have been effective.

September beekeeping checklist

Assess the population, brood and signs that the colony is queenright.
Check honey and pollen stores before deciding whether to feed.
Monitor Varroa and record the results.
Follow the applicable health plan and the instructions for authorised medicines.
Remove space that is no longer needed.
Adjust the entrance when hive defence requires it.
Check the roof, ventilation, tilt and protection from moisture.
Clean and store removed equipment correctly.
Record every intervention.

Common mistakes when preparing hives for autumn

Removing too much honey without assessing the colony's needs.
Feeding every colony in the same way without checking its stores.
Treating Varroa without monitoring before and after treatment.
Using unauthorised products or ignoring their conditions of use.
Leaving excessive empty space in a shrinking colony.
Ignoring a failing queen or a very weak colony.
Leaving spilled feed or exposed frames that encourage robbing.
Waiting for cold weather before repairing damaged entrances, roofs or floors.

Frequently asked questions

Should I feed every hive in September?

No. First assess the colony's stores and strength, together with the forage available in your area. Supplementary feeding should address a genuine need and follow the instructions for the product being used.

When should I monitor for Varroa?

Monitoring should be part of regular apiary management rather than tied to a single date. The period after the honey harvest is particularly important for assessing mite pressure, planning control and checking its effectiveness before the most demanding part of the year.

Can I apply a treatment while honey supers are on the hive?

This depends entirely on the authorised conditions for the specific medicine. Read the label and Summary of Product Characteristics, and follow all restrictions concerning honey, temperature, brood and the treatment period.

Should I reduce the hive entrance in September?

Reducing the entrance can be useful when there is a risk of robbing, wasp pressure or a colony with limited ability to defend itself. The decision must also take account of heat, ventilation and the volume of bee traffic.

How do I know whether the colony has enough stores?

Assess the number and distribution of frames containing food, and monitor the hive's weight and consumption. Requirements vary with climate and location, so seek local advice if you do not yet have the experience to estimate the necessary stores.

Prepare your apiary for the coming months

Careful preparation in September reduces the risk of surprises in autumn and allows you to act while conditions are still favourable. Assess each colony individually, address insufficient stores, monitor Varroa and prepare the equipment for rain, wind and reduced activity.

Browse the complete range of beekeeping supplies from Abadia Rural or contact us for help with feeders, hive components and other equipment.