Kentucky Beekeepers’ Calendar

June
Current Month

  • Colony population peaks as major Spring flow comes to an end.
  • Swarming wanes.
  • As daytime temperatures begin to warm into the 8O’s and 9O’s, nectar curing and honey capping become a major focus of the colony, along with ventilation to aid in the curing process and cool the brood chamber.
  • Some of the late building colonies will have lots of bees but a shortage of food stores. This imbalance will lead to starvation as the flow ends.
  • Robbing screens and/or entrance reducers should be installed well ahead of the robbing season to be effective.
    • Guard bee activity increases as foraging decreases.
    • Scout bee foragers search for more food sources as flows dwindle, which includes colonies that allow them entry!
  • Summer solstice 6/21.

Jake Barker originally adapted this calendar from John Benham’s The Bee Calendar 4th ed. A great deal of the following content is John’s. Jake has modified the content into a bullet-point format, and has added and removed material where he saw fit. 2/2025 Edition.

This calendar is somewhat regionally specific, and reflects the seasonal experiences of its authors. John Benham is off of the I-65 corridor in south central Kentucky, between Glasgow and Bowling Green. Jake Barker operates apiaries ranging from Louisville to Carrollton in north central Kentucky. Our apiaries are ~120 miles apart, but in areas with seemingly similar conditions. Beeks operating in different locales may still find this calendar useful, but may find parts of it inaccurate to their local conditions. Your mileage may vary.