Mechanisms of Swarming in the Honey Bee Superorganism: Releaser Conditions and What Happens Next

Posted June 1, 2017

Mechanisms of Swarming in the Honey Bee Superorganism: Releaser Conditions and What Happens Next

We are continuing a short series focusing on that most pivotal of events in the annual cycle of the honey bee colony – the swarm, the superorganism’s moment of reproductive fission. Beekeepers have long been trained to view swarming as the greatest threat to making a large honey crop, and rightly so. Managed colonies that …

Posted June 1, 2017

A Little Known Fact about Swarms But One That’s Quite Fabulous

Every Spring I put out my bait hives to catch swarms. Swarm-catching has become the big start of my bee season. I watch for scout bees coming to my bait hives. The scout bees come from swarms searching for new nest sites. Having numerous bait hives and spending time with them provide more opportunities to …

Posted June 1, 2017

JUNE 2017

International Honey Market Ron Phipps………………………………………………………………………………….597 The Varroa Problem—Part 8—Regulatory Cascades, Varroa Tolerance, and a Moon Shot Randy Oliver………………………………………………………………………………613 Honey Bee Nutrition—Part 2 Dale Hill……………………………………………………………………………………..631 Hive Maintenance as an Athletic Event Jessica Kern…………………………………………………………………………………635 When Is a Colony Worth Saving? Beekeeping Finance David MacFawn and Jack Elliot……………………………………………………………645 Business Insurance Issues for the Professional Beekeeper Rich Schell…………………………………………………………………………………….649 The …

Posted June 1, 2017

June ABJ Cover

Rick Knaub, a Pennsylvania beekeeper, took this great close-up photo of honey bees on a comb of honey, as well as several other nice honey bee and flower photos last summer. Rick helps manage hives at the local Quaker Meetinghouse in York, PA.

Posted May 1, 2017

Honey Bee Nutrition

As a semi-retired professional animal nutritionist having worked with a large variety of animal species, my approach to honey bee nutrition is likely somewhat different than those trained in entomology. I have had the opportunity over many years to work with a wide variety of ingredients, many of which are best suited for specific needs …

Posted May 1, 2017

The Classroom – May 2017

Comment VARROA, VARROA, VARROA! I wrote you earlier in the year and asked you your opinion about why my bees died. I was positive that it was some kind of pesticide exposure from farmers around me late last year that showed up under winter conditions. You asked me about sampling and treating for mites and …

Posted May 1, 2017

U.S. Honey Crops and Markets – May 2017

With the exception of parts of the Upper Midwest and Northeastern states, beekeepers over much of the country experienced a mild winter resulting in better colony survival rates. In some cases beekeepers still had high winter colony losses due to poor late summer and fall flows in 2016, as well as experiencing heavy varroa mite …

Posted May 1, 2017

Youth Can Change the World One Honey bee at A Time

You might ask yourself “How can we fix the issues we have with the Honey bees?” The answer can be as simple as …. “Let’s ask today’s youth”. That is what FIRST® is doing. The mission of FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is to inspire young people to be science and …

Posted May 1, 2017

Virginia “Honey Bee Sanctuary”

Leesburg VA Business Leader Plants “Honey Bee Sanctuary” — Yielding Cheerful Flowers for Seniors and a Learning Experience for Kids Without honeybees, the world would be a gloomier place. Besides brightening our environment with colorful flowers and plants, bees (and other pollinators like butterflies, birds and insects), also pollinate the fruits, nuts, and vegetables we …

Posted May 1, 2017

Letters to the editor – May 2017

New Project to Fight the Mite! : Treating Packages This Spring many beekeepers will be replenishing dead hives with packages. As all bees have some level of varroa mites, controlling mites in newly installed hives before brood is capped is key to ensure colony growth in the spring and summer. NY Bee Wellness, partnering with …

Mechanisms of Swarming in the Honey Bee Superorganism: Releaser Conditions and What Happens Next

Posted June 1, 2017