The Beekeeper’s Companion Since 1861
American Bee Journal Volume 166 No. 2 February 2026 Cover Callouts: The Tremble Dance: A Hidden Language - 153, honey bees search for sodium - 193, iNaturlaist on the Apiary -147

October 2016

Posted October 1, 2016

October 2016

International Honey Market Ron Phipps………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………1091 Understanding Colony Buildup and Decline—Part 13d—The Impact of Parasites Randy Oliver…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….1113 Varroa Mite Monitoring—Using a Sugar Roll to Identify Populations of Varroa destructor in Honey Bee Colonies Meghan Milbrath……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..1119 100% Overwintering Success in Ohio Tom and Fran Davidson……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..1125 Bomb vs Bondb—Varroa Treatment/Nontreatment: The Twain Do Meet, and Let Us Count …

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October ABJ Cover

October 2016 ABJ Cover - Painting of the original Homestead Honey Company's apiary
Posted October 1, 2016

October ABJ Cover

October Cover Picture This is a painting of the original Homestead Honey Company’s apiary painted by Corey Behlke’s Dad’s cousin, Dave Behlke. The painting served as an inspiration for Homestead Honey’s neck tags used on many of their honey containers. Read the Homestead Apiaries story by Mary and Bill Weaver starting on page 1149.

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Re-discovering Comb Honey, The Importance of Honey Bees and Encouraging New Beekeepers

Capturing a swarm
Posted September 1, 2016

Re-discovering Comb Honey, The Importance of Honey Bees and Encouraging New Beekeepers

At this time, our bees are well into the honey flow. Between swarms and colony collapse there are some difficulties with many hives making honey surplus in my apiary as well. There are a few single colonies that are filling their third comb honey super. Unfortunately, the two-queen hive has swarmed from both sides. We …

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U.S. Honey Crops and Markets – September 2016

US Crops and Honey Markets
Posted September 1, 2016

U.S. Honey Crops and Markets – September 2016

Honey crops in the southern U.S. have generally been better than last season with some notable exceptions pointed out by our reporters who live in locations hit with earlier unsettled weather and excessive rains that were then followed by excessive heat and humidity later in the summer. Beekeepers were hoping that late summer and fall …

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Bees’ Ability to Forage Decreases as Air Pollution Increases

Honeybee on Flower
Posted September 1, 2016

Bees’ Ability to Forage Decreases as Air Pollution Increases

Air pollutants interact with and break down plant-emitted scent molecules, which insect pollinators use to locate needed food, according to a team of researchers led by Penn State. The pollution-modified plant odors can confuse bees and, as a result, bees’ foraging time increases and pollination efficiency decreases. This happens because the chemical interactions decrease both …

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A New Method for Observing Honey Bee Behavior

Posted September 1, 2016

A New Method for Observing Honey Bee Behavior

Observation hives have been used to study the behavior of honey bees since the pioneering studies of François Huber in the 18th century. Observation hives generally consist of glass walled hives containing a small number of combs and bees. A frequent objection to their use is that they are usually housed and observed in daylight …

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The Classroom – September 2016

Posted September 1, 2016

The Classroom – September 2016

COMMENT ON CASTES QUESTION I read with intrigue, your answer to the question about castes. I probably would have answered the same way, but we both would be wrong. Darwin, in his book “Origin of the Species” refers to castes to distinguish between the different types of workers, not the different sexes. Diana Wheeler, writing …

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Letters to the Editor – September 2016

Posted September 1, 2016

Letters to the Editor – September 2016

Honey Stick and business Card combination My wife and I work a lot of farm markets and events, and are increasingly asked to donate honey and items for various causes. We pick and choose carefully, who we send honey, candles and mead to. The other day, our very best Market Manager, Carol Reed, asked for a …

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Ceanothus

Ceanothus Flowers
Posted September 1, 2016

Ceanothus

Scientific name: Ceanothus prostratus (Rhamnaceae) Synonyms: Ceanothus divergens Origin: Western North America (see map) Plant description: Ceanothus prostratus is a dense mat or mound-like bush or shrub that is generally less than 3m (~ 118 in). The Stems are spreading and root at their nodes.1 The twigs are reddish brown. The evergreen leaves are placed …

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An Early History of the Honey Extractor in America

Honey Emptying Machine
Posted September 1, 2016

An Early History of the Honey Extractor in America

Before the honey extractor became well known, consumers purchased honey in the comb, the traditional way to buy honey. To the consumers of the late 1800’s when liquid honey from extractors was available, honey in the comb was the mark of purity, put in the comb and sealed up by the bees. That was protection …

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