Rotate brood combs for a healthier nursery
After repeated use, old brood combs become very dark—nearly black. The inside diameter of each cell also becomes smaller because the cocoons of each succeeding generation are glued to the cell walls....
View ArticleNosema and dysentery are not the same
Yesterday I read the following statement on the blog of a well-known beekeeper. “First I looked at the hive entrances which had signs of nosema the last time I visited. The hive looked just the same –...
View ArticleThe perils of spring
While it is natural to sigh with relief when spring finally rolls around, in truth, spring is one of the hardest seasons for both bees and beekeepers. Spring colonies that have overwintered face a...
View ArticleA bit more about VSH
A reader asked how the VSH bees detect mites within the cell. So far, I cannot find a detailed explanation. Many scientific papers discuss various aspects of mite removal and efficiency, but the ones I...
View ArticleAvoid a honey drip free-for-all
One of the worst parts of honey extraction is the accumulation of sticky, gooey frames that remains after the process. These frames of uncapped comb, known as “wet” frames, are a storage nightmare...
View ArticleAirtime for bees
Last night was great for TV bees. Quite by accident I stumbled across two pieces, one right after the other. The first, on Oregon Field Guide, was about the loss of the western bumble bee and how...
View ArticleWhy did they die?
Why is this year so different? Every day I get messages that say basically the same thing: “I just checked my hive and all the bees are dead. They have plenty of honey and lots of pollen. What did I do...
View ArticleWhat is idiopathic brood disease syndrome?
A new research paper by vanEnglesdorp et al. titled “Idiopathic brood disease syndrome and queen events as precursors of colony mortality in migratory beekeeping operations in the eastern United...
View ArticleThe best in sanitary practices?
Sunshine made an unexpected appearance yesterday afternoon, so I got my camera and went looking for . . . well, I really didn’t know. Just something. The big-leaf maples were heavy with blossoms, the...
View ArticleHow common is foul brood in honey?
Beekeepers are frequently warned not to feed honey from untrusted sources to their colonies because it can carry the spores of American Foul Brood (AFB). Furthermore, we know the spores of AFB are not...
View ArticleShould you try to save a failing colony?
Lots of new beekeepers ask how they can save a failing colony. But the real question, I think, is should you even try? Could you be doing more harm than good? If you find a colony that is obviously...
View ArticleNosema and dysentery are not the same
Yesterday I read the following statement on the blog of a well-known beekeeper. “First I looked at the hive entrances which had signs of nosema the last time I visited. The hive looked just the same –...
View ArticleThe perils of spring for bees
While it is natural to sigh with relief when spring finally rolls around, in truth, spring is one of the hardest seasons for both bees and beekeepers. The perils of spring are many. Spring colonies...
View ArticleA bit more about VSH
A reader asked how the VSH bees detect mites within the cell. So far, I cannot find a detailed explanation. Many scientific papers discuss various aspects of mite removal and efficiency, but the ones I...
View ArticleAvoid a honey drip free-for-all
One of the worst parts of honey extraction is the accumulation of sticky, gooey frames that remains after the process. These frames of uncapped comb, known as “wet” frames, are a storage nightmare...
View ArticleAirtime for bees
Last night was great for TV bees. Quite by accident I stumbled across two pieces, one right after the other. The first, on Oregon Field Guide, was about the loss of the western bumble bee and how...
View ArticleWhy did they die?
Why is this year so different? Every day I get messages that say basically the same thing: “I just checked my hive and all the bees are dead. They have plenty of honey and lots of pollen. What did I do...
View ArticleWhat is idiopathic brood disease syndrome?
A new research paper by vanEnglesdorp et al. titled “Idiopathic brood disease syndrome and queen events as precursors of colony mortality in migratory beekeeping operations in the eastern United...
View ArticleBee poop on flowers: the best in sanitary practices?
Sunshine made an unexpected appearance, so I got my camera and went looking for . . . well, I really didn’t know. Just something. The trees were heavy with blossoms, the bees were soaring, and it...
View ArticleHow common is foul brood in honey?
Beekeepers are frequently warned not to feed honey from untrusted sources to their colonies because it can carry the spores of American Foul Brood (AFB). Furthermore, we know the spores of AFB are not...
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