Leo Sharashkin: Is there such a thing as natural beekeeping? Some people feel that “keeping” bees is inherently unnatural. Tom Seeley: It depends on how natural it has to be to qualify as natural beekeeping. I don’t think there’s a set definition. But I can keep bees and simulate bees living in the woods very …
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Good apiary sites seem to be more difficult to find, at least in my area. The most important consideration is, of course, plenty of forage–both in the main spring nectar flow and the flow. If possible, some nectar dribbling in during the summer dearth would be good too. A variety of pollen plants is important …
Read MoreThis month we finish a three-part series on swarming, the pivotal event around which the 12-month life cycle of Apis mellifera revolves. Since May we have established that (1) swarming is reproduction at the level of superorganism – the fission, or budding of a new colony off of a parent colony; (2) swarming involves a …
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It is common for me to get questions related to proper techniques for inspecting hives. Beekeepers, especially new beekeepers, want to know how often they should inspect their hives, what tools are needed when performing a standard inspection, and what they should look for when inspecting a hive. I will address these questions herein. I …
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This month our topic will be a diversion from subjects we usually discuss. This article is about plants. First it is necessary to acknowledge and reference the author in this journal who has covered the subject for many years. I will not try to reference every plant covered by Dr. George S. Ayers. Rather, I …
Read MoreExtended-Release Oxalic Acid Progress Report Randy Oliver……………………………………………………………………………………729 Natural Beekeeping and Ideal Hives—Dr. Tom Seeley Interview Leo Sharashkin…………………………………………………………………………………739 Rescuing Bees Is a Great Business Howard Scott…………………………………………………………………………………..747 Requeening: Why, When & How Peter Loring Borst…………………………………………………………………………….765 Honey Bee Nutrition—Part 3 Dale Hill………………………………………………………………………………………..777 A Brief History of Pesticides Alison McAfee………………………………………………………………………………….781 Honey Bee Health Coalition Drives Collaboration, Cross-Pollination to Support …
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Michael LaSpina, who lives in northern California, took this beautiful photo of a honey bee working a Catsear flower (Hypochaeris radicata) near his home. Catsear is derived from the words cat’s ear, and refers to the shape and fine hair on the leaves resembling that of the ear of a cat. The plant is also …
Read MoreAbout 80 million years ago, a group of bees began exhibiting social behavior, which includes raising young together, sharing food resources and defending their colony. Today, their descendants–honey bees, stingless bees and bumble bees–carry stowaways from their ancient ancestors: five species of gut bacteria that have evolved along with the host bees. These bacteria, living …
Read MoreBees latch on to similarly-sized nectarless flowers to unpick pollen – like keys fitting into locks, University of Stirling scientists have discovered. Research, published in Ecology and Evolution, shows the right size of bee is needed to properly pollinate a flower. The insect fits tightly with the flower’s anthers, to vibrate and unlock pollen sealed …
Read MoreFirestone, Colorado – In a continued effort to provide honey industry members with beautiful and inspirational educational materials, the National Honey Board (NHB) has created a new brochure that shares honey’s unique journey from blossom, to bee, to hive and to bottle. Honey’s Sweet Journey: From Bee to Bottle is the newest addition to the …
Read More"I want the American Bee Journal to be the finest publication about bees and beekeeping in the world."
- C.P. Dadant, Editor of ABJ 1912-1938
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