Signs the dearth has started — my checklist after getting caught out last year
Central Texas here, 8 hives, and the tap turned off about ten days ago like it always does. Last year I missed it and fed too late, so this year I wrote myself an actual checklist. Sharing in case it helps someone:
1. Bees suddenly cranky — inspections that were calm in May now get me pinged before I crack the second box.
2. No fresh white wax anywhere. When comb building stops, income has stopped.
3. Drones getting hassled or evicted at the entrance in July, not October.
4. Robbing probes — bees zigzagging at seams and cracks of neighboring hives instead of flying straight in.
5. Foragers loitering on the landing board mid-morning with nowhere to go.
Once I see 3 of the 5 I reduce entrances, stop open feeding, and keep inspections short. What would you all add?
#dearth#robbing#summer-management#checklist
▲ 22 votes💬 5 replies
5 replies
GeorgiaWes · Jul 13, 2026
Good list. I'd add #6: check the scale hive if you run one — a colony losing 200-300 g a day tells you the dearth started before the bees' mood does. And #7: bees working things they normally ignore, like your hummingbird feeder or the recycling bin. That's desperation foraging.
muglabalci · Jul 13, 2026
In Muğla we get the same July shutdown between the spring flowers and the autumn pine flow. One more sign: open a hive and the bees rush to any exposed honey instantly and lick it dry. In a flow they ignore drips. In dearth they're on a spilled drop in seconds.
ImkerinLena · Jul 13, 2026
Sensible checklist. I would put entrance reduction at the top of the response list, before feeding — a strong colony can strip a weak one in an afternoon once robbing starts, and it is far easier to prevent than to stop. Also never feed during daylight hours in dearth; evening only, inside the hive.
BallaratBees · Jul 14, 2026
Opposite end of the calendar here in Victoria — mid-winter, hives clustered and I'm just hefting for stores once a fortnight. But your point 4 applies year round: I had winter robbing start on a warm day last August because I left a weak nuc with a full-width entrance. Reduce early, always.
TexasBeeSam · Jul 14, 2026
The spilled-drop test is a good one muglabalci, hadn't thought of it as a signal but you're dead right. Entrances went down to 2 inches on everything this morning. Thanks all.