The Beekeeper’s Companion Since 1861
American Bee Journal Volume 166 No. 1 January 2026 Cover Callouts: Invisible Bee Communication - 45, Vadescana: A new varroa control - 51, The impacts of pollen trapping - 61 Cover depicts a honey bee with propolis on its legs.

Unlocking a Troublesome Genome: Why Honey Bee Research is Lagging Behind

Posted June 1, 2018

Unlocking a Troublesome Genome: Why Honey Bee Research is Lagging Behind

We hoped that sequencing the honey bee genome would unlock the evolutionary mysteries around the origin of insect societies. So twelve years later, how is it possible that we still only know what about two thirds of their genes actually do? We used to think that knowing an organism’s genome sequence – or complete genetic …

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DECLINING BEE POPULATION TO GET HELPING HAND WITH NATIONAL PROJECT

Research Declining Bee population
Posted June 1, 2018

DECLINING BEE POPULATION TO GET HELPING HAND WITH NATIONAL PROJECT

Grant allows researchers to develop app and Amazon-like seed distribution Funded by the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research, Barbara Sharanowski will coordinate a nationwide team of citizen scientists who will convert lawns into native wildflower havens especially designed to attract native bees and other insects that pollinate plants. Bees and other pollinators are essential …

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LIZARDS, MICE, BATS AND OTHER VERTEBRATES ARE IMPORTANT POLLINATORS TOO

Posted June 1, 2018

LIZARDS, MICE, BATS AND OTHER VERTEBRATES ARE IMPORTANT POLLINATORS TOO

Study reviews the global importance of vertebrate pollinators for plant reproduction Bees are not the only animals that carry pollen from flower to flower. Species with backbones, among them bats, birds, mice, and even lizards, also serve as pollinators. Although less familiar as flower visitors than insect pollinators, vertebrate pollinators are more likely to have …

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NEW PESTICIDE AS ALTERNATIVE TO NEONICOTINOIDS

Posted June 1, 2018

NEW PESTICIDE AS ALTERNATIVE TO NEONICOTINOIDS

In February 2018, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) confirmed that the pesticide group of neonicotinoids is harmful to bees. A novel pesticide manufactured by Bayer AG is therefore being discussed as an alternative; it contains flupyradifurone from the class of butenolides. The product goes by the brand name of Sivanto. Sivanto is assumed to …

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June 2018

Posted June 1, 2018

June 2018

The Future of Organic Regenerative Certification Rusty Burlew – 637 Mining Website Traffic for Swarm Activity Bryan C. Hains – 643 Modeling Nuc Buildup Randy Oliver – 647 A Honey of a War Charles and Karen Nielsen Lorence – 655 More Fruitful Beekeeping with a Management Plan Tina Sebestyen – 665 Superorganism Resilience Bill Hesbach – 675 Envisioning the Future of Beekeeping Part 1 Tammy Horn …

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June 2018 ABJ Cover

JUNE 2018 ABJ Cover
Posted June 1, 2018

June 2018 ABJ Cover

Jonathan Willner, a California photographer, captured this photo early this spring “Right now in my backyard we have a tree stump that’s been gradually falling apart over the last year. A few months ago I started noticing a lot of bees flying in front of it. We’ve inherited a new bee colony that decided to …

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ABRC at AAPA 2018

Elizabeth Walsh Student Scholarship Winner
Posted May 1, 2018

ABRC at AAPA 2018

While many of you are busy enjoying much celebrated national beekeeping conferences, chances are you might not have even been aware that another beneficial and thought-provoking conference is taking place at the same time and most likely in the same place. The American Association of Professional Apiculturists (AAPA) has organized the American Beekeeping Research Conference …

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The Classroom – May 2018

The Classroom - American Bee Journal
Posted May 1, 2018

The Classroom – May 2018

Q LINSEED/FLAXSEED OIL…Its Natural Jerry: I have a student with a ton of linseed oil who wants to know if he can use it on his hives. Any idea if it is OK? I note that varnish is acceptable. It has a strong smell and a foul taste, so linseed might be OK. Your section …

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Notes from the Lab – May 2018

notes from the lab
Posted May 1, 2018

Notes from the Lab – May 2018

It’s spring and you survived the winter. As the sun re-emerges and the weather warms, honey bees begin taking their first real foraging trips to collect food for the colony. But of course, the flowers that are attractive to bees are also attractive to a broad range of other non-bee pollinators who are looking for …

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The Elusive Genesis of Apis mellifera

Elusive Genesis of Apis mellifera
Posted May 1, 2018

The Elusive Genesis of Apis mellifera

I was a young Assistant Professor, dark-haired, my PhD merely weeks old when I arrived, briefcase and 35-mm slide carousel in hand, for my first lecture to a beekeeping club in London. As soon as I entered the lecture hall I could tell something was up. There was a buzz of agitation in the air. …

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