APICULTURE

Harvesting and Processing

Honey is harvested at the end of a flowering season. In traditional or top-bar hives, the beekeeper selects combs which contain ripe honey covered with a fine layer of white beeswax, usually those nearest the outside of the nest. Honey is extracted only from super combs using honey extractor. The sealing of cells on combs is removed with sharp knife before placing in the extractor. Extractor should be worked slowly at the beginning and at bout 150 rpm at the end for about 1 to 2 minutes. Then the sides of the frames are reversed and the extractor is again worked. Extracted honey is filtered through muslin cloth. Providing a bee escape between the brood and super on the day prior to honey extraction keeps the bees away from the super. Remove the escape soon after honey extraction.

During the lean season (May-September), remove the super chambers, arrange the available healthy brood combs in the brood chamber and use division boards to restrict the space. Provide artificial feeding once in a week by way of 1:1 sugar syrup in water. Each colony may require syrup prepared from 500-750 g sugar a week depending on the size of the colony and availability of stored food. When there is dearth of natural source, pollen substitutes may be provided in the colony.

Honey extractor

Heat the honey to 45ºC by keeping it in a water bath. Sieve it to remove wax particles, debris, dust and pollen. Again heat it to a temperature of 65ºC in water bath and maintain it for 10 minutes. Then cool and filter it in 80-mesh muslin and store in glass, porcelain, earthenware, enamelware or stainless steel containers. Bulk storing can be made in mild steel containers lined with bee wax. After the honey has been separated from the combs, the beewax can be melted gently over water into a block.

Last updated: 21-3-2007