Bee use of propolis Do we know how long bees have been producing propolis? In the bee and wasp family, only honey bees exhibit this trait — is that correct? Calum Grigor Germany, December A Sawflies, wasps, bees, and ants belong to the insect order Hymenoptera (from the Greek: hymen — membrane, optera — wing, …
Read MoreWe’ve all heard of certain human endeavors described as “interminable boredom punctuated by moments of sheer terror.” We might include combat, surgery, firefighting, whitewater rafting, or rock climbing in a list of activities that elicit periodic unhinging. I’ve heard folks describe beekeeping in this way, although I don’t quite agree. Boring? Absolutely. Terrorizing? Sometimes. But …
Read MoreIt is all about the weather when it comes to managing bees in March. I have seen March weather disappoint me many times. We are most likely thinking of things we can do such as make splits, prevent swarms, try to raise queens or get ready for a honey crop. All I can say is …
Read MoreIn this article series, we have been exploring how bees see each other in ultraviolet light (UV). I have been using UV at 365 nanometers, which as shown earlier is close to a honey bee’s maximum sensitivity in UV. Seeing bees more like they see each other can bring us closer to understanding their lives. …
Read MoreSimple questions don’t always have easy answers Question: “Should I requeen every two years?” Answer: “Well, yes and no.” This common subject came up again during some short email interactions a few weeks ago. At first glance, and from the perspective of an established beekeeper, yep … you should requeen every two years. Next question? …
Read MoreWhy do bees beard? My November issue of the ABJ arrived a couple of weeks ago and I have recently finished reading it. I was particularly interested in Dewey Caron’s explanation of why bees sometimes hang in clusters around the entrance to the hive. This is a question that turns up regularly on the Facebook …
Read MoreWhat makes a poor queen poor? Alison McAfee – 271 Who’s keeping whom? Peter Keilty – 285 Propagating Varroa-resistant Colonies Stephen Martin – 289 Arkansas Honey Festival Serves Beekeepers and Public Dewey M. Caron – 305 A Tribute to Sue Cobey on Her Retirement Jackie Park Burris – 311 A Commercial Perspective – From Conventions …
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Apis artistry: Gavonna Fore of West Plains, Missouri, discovered this work of art in her very first hive in the spring of 2023. Note the pristine white cell walls – accentuated by black foundation below – whereas the top edges are already travel-stained with pollen and propolis from the “dirty” feet of construction workers.
Read More Drone brood lead to more Varroa I have a question regarding the consequences of your answer regarding flooding an area with drones (December 2024 Classroom). Letting the drone brood, especially multiple generations of drone brood, hatch will very negatively affect a colony’s Varroa population. How would you recommend countering this issue? I was trying to …
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- C.P. Dadant, Editor of ABJ 1912-1938
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