A good inspection is not about opening a colony and trying to remember everything you saw. It is a repeatable process. Start before the roof comes off: know which colony you are inspecting, what happened last time and whether any action was due. During the inspection, work methodically and record what you actually observe.
What to look for during a hive inspection
A useful inspection record normally captures colony strength, brood, queen status, queen cells, stores, temperament, health observations, supers and any management carried out. You do not need to see the queen on every visit. Eggs and young larvae can provide useful evidence that a queen has been laying recently.
Record frames of bees and frames of brood consistently. Note whether eggs, larvae and sealed brood are present, rather than relying on a vague description such as “strong”. Look at the brood pattern, stores and space available to the colony. Record queen cups or developed queen cells accurately and note what action you took.
Finish with the next decision
The most valuable part of an inspection record is often the action it creates. If a super needs adding, a queen cell needs checking, equipment needs replacing or a treatment needs following up, record it as a future action with a date. That turns an inspection from a historical note into a management tool.
HiveIQ is being designed around this workflow: observe, understand and act, while keeping the full history attached to the colony.