Birds vs. Bees: Study Helps Explain How Flowers Evolved to Get Pollinators to Specialize

Posted July 1, 2017

Birds vs. Bees: Study Helps Explain How Flowers Evolved to Get Pollinators to Specialize

Work by Robert J. Gegear at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) shows that flowers that were thought to have evolved to lure hummingbirds, actually have combinations of traits that discourage wasteful visits by bumblebees. Worcester, Mass. – Ecologists who study flowering plants have long believed that flowers evolved with particular sets of characteristics–unique combinations of colors, …

Posted July 1, 2017

How Varroa Mites Take Advantage of Managed Beekeeping Practices

Closer colonies and less swarming allow mite populations to grow and spread Annapolis, MD — As the managed honey bee industry continues to grapple with significant annual colony losses, the Varroa destructor mite is emerging as the leading culprit. And, it turns out, the very nature of modern beekeeping may be giving the parasite the …

future beekeeper advocating for bee research at the March for Science even in Fort Lauderdale, FL

Posted July 1, 2017

Letters to the Editor – July 2017

Future Beekeeper I’m a former bee research technician at Virginia Tech. I’m now at UF as a technician and working on a PhD in termites, but I stay current in apiculture by keeping bees, reading ABJ & teaching for Jamie Ellis’ Bee College a couple of times a year. Rick Fell at VT saw this …

Posted July 1, 2017

U.S. Honey Crops and Markets – July 2017

UNITED STATES Poor honey flow and beekeeping conditions in Florida have curtailed honey production in this huge beekeeping state. The terrible drought is blamed for poor honey crops in many instances, but other problems such as the extensive wildfire along the Florida-Georgia border, loss of bee pasture, varroa and small hive beetles are also high …

Posted July 1, 2017

The Classroom – July 2017

Comment FROM THE LAND DOWN UNDER…COMMENT In the April 2017 issue of American Bee Journal (pp 361 & 362), there are a couple of letters for which I would like to add my comments to your answers. No doubt your computer has a delete button if you doubt that my comments are of interest. Firstly, …

Posted July 1, 2017

Natural Beekeeping and Ideal Hives – Tom Seeley Interview

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 …

Posted July 1, 2017

Finding Apiaries from Above using Google Maps (Part One)

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 …

Posted July 1, 2017

The Evolution of Swarming

This 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 …

Posted July 1, 2017

Conducting a Hive Inspection

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 …

Posted July 1, 2017

Making Our Roadsides Pollinator Friendly

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 …

Birds vs. Bees: Study Helps Explain How Flowers Evolved to Get Pollinators to Specialize

Posted July 1, 2017