Q More on Comb Orientation Regarding your [May] answer regarding cell orientation in the nest: I recently left a half frame flat [horizontal] in an eke [spacer] on top of a colony to let them clear out some old feed that was still [in the frame]. A week or three later, [upon] returning to the …
Read MorePerhaps I’m old school about food. I like apples to taste like apples, trout like trout, and honey like honey. But other people are more complex, preferring foods that taste like others. We now have Oreos redolent of strawberries, coffee that reeks of chicory, and banana-flavored doughnuts without a banana in sight. Yes, I sometimes …
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My lab is proud of our culture. We’ve worked hard for many years to create a supportive environment that’s conducive to sharing of knowledge and skills. Because of this culture, new people to our lab quickly gain new knowledge and skills, our team makes progress, and we have a bit of fun along the way. …
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For this article and the next, I am going to describe the life cycles of paper wasps, yellow jackets, and hornets, for the region confined to North America, in its temperate climate with well-defined seasons. I see the need from two main perspectives. First, a beekeeper among others who do not routinely work with insects …
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My friend Annie Swarey, an Amish beekeeper, planned to sell nucs and needed an apiary inspection and permits for colonies crossing county lines (an Illinois regulation for over half a century). April 8 was the perfect day for it — a beautiful day nestled in between a stretch of chilly, rainy days. She invited me …
Read MoreThe colony’s “queen kit” The queen is the sparkplug for the colony’s engine. Harry Laidlaw, noted author and researcher, has described the honey bee queen as a biological kit. This colony kit produces chemicals (pheromones) and makes genetic contributions (eggs) to the colony. When the beekeeper replaces the “kit,” changes are being made in the …
Read MoreDIVISION OF LABOR I am an avid reader of your magazine. I just finished reading the 2-part article that Kayla deJong wrote on the division of labor. Wow!! This was probably one of the most comprehensive articles I have ever read on this topic. The big thing that impressed me was how easy it was …
Read MoreCalifornia, April 10,2024 – American Honey Producers Association The USDA NASS 2022 Ag Census reported a record high 3.8 million honey bee colonies in the United States, an increase of 25% over the last bi-decade census. However, these USDA numbers directly contradict the same agency’s own yearly honey report and honey bee report. Those reports …
Read MoreThe European Beekeeping Association (EBA) has sent an open letter to members of the European Parliament, stressing the importance of honey production not only as a culinary delight but also as a key contributor to ecological balance and agricultural prosperity and, additionally, informing about the crucial mission and objectives of the newly formed European Beekeeping …
Read MoreIn the U.S. the Western honey bees, Apis mellifera, have been devastated by varroa mites, which jumped from the Asian honey bee species Apis cerana many decades ago and arrived in the U.S. in the ‘80’s. Given the history and impact of the varroa mite to the U.S. beekeeping industry, a growing concern among beekeepers, …
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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