The Beekeeper’s Companion Since 1861
Volume 165 No. 12 December 2025 Cover American Bee Journal. Cover features a queen bee surrounded by worker bees. Cover Callouts: Managing pests and pathogens organically - 1321 Stem cells, weeds, and bees - 1337 Lower-energy beekeeping-1343

How Bees Feed Their Young: Social Sharing to Solo Snacking

A beekeeper, whose face is hidden by a frame of honeycomb and bees inspects the frame. The beekeeper is in a yellow bee suit with white and yellow gloves in and are with trees in the background.
Posted September 1, 2024

How Bees Feed Their Young: Social Sharing to Solo Snacking

Imagine a photo of a beekeeper scanning a frame of brood. The beekeeper wears a multi-layered suit of armor and clutches the frame with thick gloves and a veiled expression. This posture, perhaps the most common image in beekeeping, makes me wonder if beekeepers do anything else. I’m especially perplexed by the TV commercial for …

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A Fungicide Commonly Used During Crop Pollination is Acutely Toxic to Honey Bee Larvae

Posted September 1, 2024

A Fungicide Commonly Used During Crop Pollination is Acutely Toxic to Honey Bee Larvae

Captan is the most-used fungicide during New York apple pollination, with over 307,000 kg applied in 2018 (Wieben, 2021). In fact, the next five most-used fungicides (mancozeb, copper sulfate, thiophanate-methyl, cyprodinil, and myclobutanil) combined for only 207,000 kg of use, meaning captan is not only the most-used fungicide, it’s by far the most-used fungicide. Countrywide …

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W.T. Falconer Manufacturing: A Once Thriving Producer of Beekeeping Equipment

Figure 1: The 1888 catalog cover of the W.T. Falconer Manufacturing company. Text on the cover says: W.T. Falconer Manufacturer of Simplicity Hives of all styles, one piece sections, "Falcon Brand" comb foundation, and general dealer of Apiarian supplies, Jamestown, N.Y. 1888. The cover is a grayish brown with an ornate rectangular border around the text.
Posted September 1, 2024

W.T. Falconer Manufacturing: A Once Thriving Producer of Beekeeping Equipment

The history of American apiculture has left a long list of bee supply companies that once were part of the growing honey industry. In the 1860s, these businesses began appearing, and they became more numerous in later decades. Some of the smaller suppliers may only be known from the literature from their catalogs and pamphlets. …

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September Tasks

Photo 1: Beekeeper kneeling over open hive covered in bees.
Posted September 1, 2024

September Tasks

A queen in a colony must be productive. One doesn’t need to find the queen in order to determine if she is performing well. I mark my queens as shown above so she is easier to find. I will only need to find her if I must replace her for some reason. By the way, …

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Letters to the Editor – September 2024

Posted September 1, 2024

Letters to the Editor – September 2024

Responsibility for lost swarms In response to the question raised by Nick Maggiore in the August issue [Letters to the Editor: “Who is responsible for lost swarms?”], I’d refer you to read “The Law of Bees” [North Carolina Law Review, 1926] for some legal perspective. I would propose that the answer is better reached by …

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PURDUE RESEARCH STRENGTHENS BEE COLONIES FOR TOP POLLINATION PERFORMANCE

Posted September 1, 2024

PURDUE RESEARCH STRENGTHENS BEE COLONIES FOR TOP POLLINATION PERFORMANCE

June 26, 2024 – Devyn Raver, Purdue University  Department of Agriculture Amid National Pollinators Month, beekeepers are focusing their efforts on enhancing their bee colonies’ resilience, particularly in preparation for the harsh winter months ahead. Krispn Given, senior apicultural specialist and honey bee breeder in Purdue’s entomology department, is leading research to boost honeybees’ behavioral …

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RENOWNED HONEY EXPERT C. MARINA MARCHESE BREAKS GROUND AS FIRST AMERICAN OFFICIAL INSTRUCTOR FOR ITALIAN HONEY SENSORY ANALYSIS

Posted September 1, 2024

RENOWNED HONEY EXPERT C. MARINA MARCHESE BREAKS GROUND AS FIRST AMERICAN OFFICIAL INSTRUCTOR FOR ITALIAN HONEY SENSORY ANALYSIS

Level 1 Honey Sensory Certification now available in the U.S. through The American Honey Tasting Society July 15, 2024, Weston, CT – C. Marina Marchese, master honey sommelier, author and founder of the American Honey Tasting Society, is now the first American to be recognized as an Official Instructor with The Italian National Register of …

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Contents-September 2024

Posted September 1, 2024

Contents-September 2024

Review and Critique of the Xerces Society Overview Report with Respect to National Forest System Lands. American Honey Producers Association  – 937 Yellowjackets and Hornets: Why They are a Problem and How to Protect Y0ur Bees Stephen Martin – 941 What’s Blooming in Your Neck of the Woods? September Ed Szymanski – 947 Mohawk Valley …

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ABJ SEPTEMBER 2024 COVER

Posted September 1, 2024

ABJ SEPTEMBER 2024 COVER

Hello there … This month’s cover features 5-year-old Finn Nelson of Grants Pass, Oregon. His dad, Tyler, is a second-year beekeeper. Finn and his sister Saylor have been enjoying peanut butter and honey sandwiches every day from this year’s harvest.

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The Classroom – August 2024

The Classroom - ABJ - Jamie Ellis
Posted August 1, 2024

The Classroom – August 2024

Q Is it okay to use “old” beebread? Here is a common scenario we have all encountered: You lose a hive or two over the winter and, while going through the deadout the following spring, encounter numerous frames of unused pollen and/or frames containing both pollen and capped honey or nectar. Can/should these frames be used …

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