Are you still inspecting? November?

[drdrday]

I've been really surprised over the last few weeks by how many keepers are still inspecting their hives.
I haven't inspected any of my hives since the very end of August. I haven't even opened any of the hives since then, except for very very briefly taking out the Apivar strips last week. I certainly didn't hang around to inspect any frames.

I know that timings vary across the country (let alone the rest of the world!), but I'm in the south of the UK where weather is generally warmer for longer.
For me the day job tends to sway my timings, so that the last of the honey has to be off and extracted before the new school year starts. Without this my timings might be a couple of weeks later, but as soon as the honey is off, any varroa treatments go in, and the hives are left sealed with all that lovely propolis to look after themselves.
I don't see any benefit in inspecting beyond the end of the summer. I'm far more likely to cause an issue, such as losing a queen, than having any chance at that point in the season to be able to fix any problems.

My only concern at this point in the year is that the hives have a good enough weight, and I don't need to go 'in' to find that out. Am I being misguided??

 

[pargyle]

Too late to be doing inspections ... what can you achieve apart from disturbing the hive winter preps which are now well underway and in some areas complete ! I also know people who are still poking around in their hives - misguided curiosity I assume ?

 

[JamezF]

I haven't opened my hives since around the same time. Irritatingly, in one case, as I meant to nadir a super with some frames of honey that had crystallised in the comb, but forgot. I vaped the colonies through a hole in the floor, so they didn't even have to be opened up for that.

James

 

[Curly green finger's]

I last did a few inspections three weeks ago might be two, temp was 18c I had reasons, imo if there is a good reason and the weather permits then what is the problem.
Inspections were briefly done no messing about.