Q Plastic Foundation A well respected beekeeper recently told me that he did not use plastic foundation because it confused the bees’ in-hive communication in the bee dance. A discussion of vibration and harmonics followed, most of which went over my head. So the question: Is there any solid research to back this up, or …
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Beekeepers are inventors, many of them – surely more than among keepers of much else. To speculate on why this is so, consider that they are people who are content in the company of wild stinging insects that have no inclination toward domestication. To have some say in the situation, beekeepers must anticipate and guide …
Read MoreAnnouncement of Rhode Island College and RI Beekeepers’ Association collaborative research project “Protecting Honey Bees from the Small Hive Beetle in Rhode Island” It is well-known that American honey bees are at risk with 40-70% losses of beehives reported throughout the US annually. American beekeepers have been battling various pests weakening the bees, including the …
Read MoreIndiana University BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — An Indiana University researcher and collaborators have published the first comprehensive analysis of the gut bacteria found in queen bees. Despite the important role of gut microbial communities — also known the “microbiome” — in protecting against disease…
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Blake Shook, a young Texas commercial beekeeper, in a field of blooming canola. Read more about Blake Shook and Sarah Rushfeldt, a Wisconsin commercial beekeeper, in Charles and Karen Lorence’s article in this issue beginning on page 557.
Read MoreU.S. Honey Production Up 19 Percent in 2014 USDA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …
Read MoreClimbing trees to retrieve swarms with a ladder is not for everybody. It requires comfort with heights, a keen sense of balance, concentration on every movement, and planning every maneuver well ahead. And above all else – always expect the unexpected. I started climbing trees for swarms when only a kid, learning to use ladders, …
Read MoreBefore I go much further into the evolutionary history behind honey bees and beekeeping I need to pause and consider something so obvious it almost escapes notice. In fact, it did escape my notice until just recently when I realized my near-mistake. And I’m talking of course about the nest – or more accurately, the …
Read MoreLast month this column had suggestions on how to keep bees in an agricultural environment where acres are treated with insecticide 1-2 times each season, fungicide 1 time each season and herbicides 3-4 times each season. My suggestions were based on 34 years of experience keeping bees in this environment. I have proven it can …
Read MoreOne of the greatest joys of beekeeping is acquiring one’s first hive. I dedicated an entire article to discussing how to acquire bees and queens (see Ellis, J.D. 2015. Acquiring bees and queens. American Bee Journal, 155(1): 29-33). In the current article, I discuss the next step in becoming a beekeeper: initiating your new colonies. …
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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