When I go to the apiary, I find myself naturally focusing only on the bees—it’s part of the business, but it puts me in a state of intense  concentration. This single-minded focus takes so much energy that eventually, I have to lie back and gaze up at the sky to rest. Only then do  I start noticing everything around me and sensing the arrival of spring with all five senses. The humming of bees in flight, the tender green  leaves of plants and trees, the fresh scent of the spring breeze, and the birds chirping—all these things come into view when I lay down in  the apiary. Right in front of me, a wild garlic plant with pure white, delicate flowers blooms.Seeing how much it has grown brings me joy.  As I gently pull up the root, a pure white bulb appears, accompanied by well-developed roots.

I want to finish the hive inspections early so I can go gather wild garlic, but the inspections are crucial this time of year. As  temperatures rise, Varroa mites, which are a major enemy of honeybees, can quickly become a serious issue. This spring, there’s a particular  concern about an increase in their numbers, so preventive measures are essential. In beekeeping, taking proactive measures is essential. The first priority is replacing the queen bee. A queen with diminished egg-laying ability leads to a decline in colony strength, weakening  their defense against natural predators and reducing immunity to various diseases. Another approach is the selective use of insecticides. Although chemical pesticides are fast-acting, I avoid them because they can contaminate the honey and cause significant  harm to the bees themselves.

For pest control, I use insecticides derived from natural herbal ingredients. Typically, mite control measures are implemented only after  their numbers have increased to a certain extent. However, I believe this approach is too late; I act immediately upon spotting mites.  As spring approaches, the queen bee instinctively lays drones to ensure the continuation of the species. When I open the drone cells within the hive,  I often find mites attacking the larvae. The larvae are pure white, making it easy to spot the small black mites.  As soon as I find even one, I immediately apply an insecticide.  There are various types of organic insecticides available, one of which is a ribbon soaked in insecticide. This product primarily utilizes  extracts from pyrethrum flowers. I hang two of these ribbons between the frames in each hive, preferably in areas where the bees are concentrated. (To be continued)