Being in full season and with a high nectar flow, beekeepers need to understand that even though you apply strips instead of smoke treatments, the chemicals will still end up in your honey.

While strips may seem like a less invasive option, it’s essential to recognize how these treatments can impact your honey harvest.

How Strips Work

Strips are commonly used by beekeepers to manage pests like Varroa mites.

These strips are placed inside the hive, slowly releasing chemicals over time to kill mites.

While effective, the downside is that these chemicals don’t just stay within the brood cells or on the mites, and in time they will end up in your honey.

Chemicals and Nectar

During peak nectar flow, bees are constantly foraging and bringing nectar back to the hive to turn into honey.

The problem arises when chemicals from the strips come into contact with this nectar, either by touching the honeycomb or through bees themselves that have interacted with treated surfaces.

Over time, these chemicals can accumulate in the honey, which will affect its quality and safety for consumption.

While some chemical residues may be within legal limits for consumption, we as beekeepers should strive to keep our honey as natural and pure as possible.

Why Timing Is Crucial

If you need to use chemical treatments in your hive, timing is everything.

It’s really important to understand that applying strips during peak nectar flow will increase the risk of contaminating your honey.

Beekeepers should aim to apply treatments during periods when honey won’t be harvested, such as before the nectar flow begins or after it has ended.

This helps ensure that the honey you collect is free from unwanted chemical residues.

The Importance of Monitoring

Always monitor the progress of your treatments and the nectar flow in your area.

If you’ve already applied strips, consider removing the honey supers temporarily to reduce the risk of contamination.

It’s also wise to follow the manufacturer’s instructions closely to ensure you aren’t exceeding recommended dosages or application times.

All beekeepers must understand the risk of chemical contamination in honey