The Beekeeper’s Companion Since 1861
ABJ Cover March 2025 - Pale yellow honeycomb with black foundation. Callouts: What makes a poor queen poor? Pg 271, A tribute to Sue Cobey pg. 311, A robbing screen that works? pg. 327

A Beekeeper’s Introduction to the Other Stinging Insects – Paper Wasps, Yellow Jackets, and Hornets: Part 1

Posted June 1, 2024

A Beekeeper’s Introduction to the Other Stinging Insects – Paper Wasps, Yellow Jackets, and Hornets: Part 1

For this article and the next, I am going to describe the life cycles of paper wasps, yellow jackets, and hornets, for the region confined to North America, in its temperate climate with well-defined seasons. I see the need from two main perspectives. First, a beekeeper among others who do not routinely work with insects …

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Queen Status — And Assisting the Coronation

Eclipse with Bee
Posted June 1, 2024

Queen Status — And Assisting the Coronation

My friend Annie Swarey, an Amish beekeeper, planned to sell nucs and needed an apiary inspection and permits for colonies crossing county lines (an Illinois regulation for over half a century). April 8 was the perfect day for it — a beautiful day nestled in between a stretch of chilly, rainy days. She invited me …

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The Replaceable Queen – Hers is a short, volatile life

Posted June 1, 2024

The Replaceable Queen – Hers is a short, volatile life

The colony’s “queen kit” The queen is the sparkplug for the colony’s engine. Harry Laidlaw, noted author and researcher, has described the honey bee queen as a biological kit. This colony kit produces chemicals (pheromones) and makes genetic contributions (eggs) to the colony. When the beekeeper replaces the “kit,” changes are being made in the …

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Letters to the Editor – June 2024

Posted June 1, 2024

Letters to the Editor – June 2024

DIVISION OF LABOR I am an avid reader of your magazine. I just finished reading the 2-part article that Kayla deJong wrote on the division of labor. Wow!! This was probably one of the most comprehensive articles I have ever read on this topic. The big thing that impressed me was how easy it was …

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AHPA DISPUTES USDA CENSUS OF HONEY BEE COLONIES

Posted June 1, 2024

AHPA DISPUTES USDA CENSUS OF HONEY BEE COLONIES

California, April 10,2024 – American Honey Producers Association The USDA NASS 2022 Ag Census reported a record high 3.8 million honey bee colonies in the United States, an increase of 25% over the last bi-decade census. However, these USDA numbers directly contradict the same agency’s own yearly honey report and honey bee report. Those reports …

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EUROPEAN BEEKEEPING ASSOCIATION SENDS OPEN LETTER TO EU PARLIAMENT

Posted June 1, 2024

EUROPEAN BEEKEEPING ASSOCIATION SENDS OPEN LETTER TO EU PARLIAMENT

The European Beekeeping Association (EBA) has sent an open letter to members of the European Parliament, stressing the importance of honey production not only as a culinary delight but also as a key contributor to ecological balance and agricultural prosperity and, additionally, informing about the crucial mission and objectives of the newly formed European Beekeeping …

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AUBURN UNIVERSITY & APIARY INSPECTORS KICK OFF 2024 TROPILAELAPS TRAINING GRANT WITH SUCCESSFUL THAILAND TRIP

Posted June 1, 2024

AUBURN UNIVERSITY & APIARY INSPECTORS KICK OFF 2024 TROPILAELAPS TRAINING GRANT WITH SUCCESSFUL THAILAND TRIP

In the U.S. the Western honey bees, Apis mellifera, have been devastated by varroa mites, which jumped from the Asian honey bee species Apis cerana many decades ago and arrived in the U.S. in the ‘80’s. Given the history and impact of the varroa mite to the U.S. beekeeping industry, a growing concern among beekeepers, …

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Contents – June 2024

Posted June 1, 2024

Contents – June 2024

Microbiome of the Honey Bee Robert Owen – 607 Marking Queens: A Look Back Peter L Borst – 613 Effect of OAV on the Rearing brood Ernie Daley and Randy Oliver – 620 What Bison Did for the Bees: The Story of the World’s Greatest “Weed” Peter Keilty – 645 How Many Honey Bee Colonies …

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ABJ JUNE 2024 COVER

Posted June 1, 2024

ABJ JUNE 2024 COVER

Our cover image comes to us from Denise Cocchiara of Sparta, New Jersey. Denise painted a series of beekeeping water colors – this one titled “Beekeeper III” – which won awards in the 2023 New Jersey watercolor Society Annual Juried Exhibition. We would like to thank her neighbor (and ABJ reader) Tom Makoujy for sharing …

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The Classroom – May 2024

The Classroom - ABJ - Jamie Ellis
Posted May 1, 2024

The Classroom – May 2024

Q Hive Configuration Question You have talked that you run deep + medium hive configurations, and that at a certain point, you shake down the medium and insert a queen excluder. You turn the medium into a honey super for the spring to get them to lay up the winter stores. At what point do …

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