The Beekeeper’s Companion Since 1861
American Bee Journal Volume 165 No. 5 May 2025

Tropical stingless bees can pick up disease from sick honey bees

Posted September 1, 2023

Tropical stingless bees can pick up disease from sick honey bees

Stingless bees aren’t present in the United States, but they’re native to tropical areas such as Mexico and Central America. These social bees come in many shapes and sizes and can be very beautiful (see Photos 1-3). Some species of stingless bees, including Melipona beecheeii (see Photo 4), have been domesticated since at least Mayan …

Read More

Bees Robbing Honey en masse and How to Avoid It

Posted September 1, 2023

Bees Robbing Honey en masse and How to Avoid It

On numerous beekeeping projects, I have traveled to various countries helping beekeepers with their problems. These assignments required working with different strains and species of honey bees. In Bolivia, I worked with Africanized bees, and yes, they lived up to their defensive reputation. On the other hand, an elderly beekeeper and I could inspect his …

Read More

Next-level Natural Beekeeping — Grow the Best Bee Nutrition

Posted September 1, 2023

Next-level Natural Beekeeping — Grow the Best Bee Nutrition

You might have a prairie! Don’t disc it or spray it! Wouldn’t you love to have an apiary on a prairie? With a wide array of native wildflowers constantly blooming, your honey bees would always have something to munch on. It goes without saying that, as keepers of bees, our spirits lift each time we …

Read More

Waxing Eloquent on the Art and Science of Dippering

Posted September 1, 2023

Waxing Eloquent on the Art and Science of Dippering

Waxing Eloquent on the Art and Science of Dippering Although it may appear useless, the honey dipper is well-liked by many. In fact, some argue that dipping transforms honey into a special occasion. Serving honey with a twist At Christmastime, my daughter gave us a ceramic skep-shaped honey dish with a wooden honey dipper. Oddly …

Read More

Feeding Fall and Winter Colonies

Posted September 1, 2023

Feeding Fall and Winter Colonies

Giving it our best seasonal guesses It’s a common recommendation Nearly every fall and winter bee management list has feeding as a recommendation. It’s a common bee colony management tool. If late-season colonies are light on honey stores, then certainly feed them, but as usual, the beekeeper challenge is a mash of contorted management details. …

Read More

Letters to the Editor – September 2023

Posted September 1, 2023

Letters to the Editor – September 2023

It started with God Eugene, I want to thank you once more for your work as editor of the American Bee Journal. It is greatly appreciated. Given this is the most busy time of the year for a gardener and beekeeper, I am a bit behind in reading articles. In the May 2023 magazine in …

Read More

SWEET: HONEY REDUCES CARDIOMETABOLIC RISKS, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO STUDY SHOWS

Posted September 1, 2023

SWEET: HONEY REDUCES CARDIOMETABOLIC RISKS, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO STUDY SHOWS

Researchers at the University of Toronto have found that honey improves key measures of cardiometabolic health, including blood sugar and cholesterol levels — especially if the honey is raw and from a single floral source. The researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials on honey, and found that it lowered fasting blood …

Read More

HONEY BEES MORE FAITHFUL TO THEIR FLOWER PATCHES THAN BUMBLE BEES

Posted September 1, 2023

HONEY BEES MORE FAITHFUL TO THEIR FLOWER PATCHES THAN BUMBLE BEES

MADISON, WI, June 29, 2023 — Honey bees are more faithful to their flower patches than bumble bees when it comes to returning to collect more pollen and nectar, according to a study by USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists. Overall, 76 percent of honey bees in the study revisited the same plot of alfalfa …

Read More

HONEY BEE RESEARCH

Posted September 1, 2023

HONEY BEE RESEARCH

 FFAR & AAVMC Announce 2023 Veterinary Fellows WASHINGTON, July 13, 2023 — Today the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) and the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) announced the 13 recipients of the 2023 Veterinary Student Research Fellowship (FFAR Vet Fellows). This unique fellowship creates opportunities for veterinary students around the world …

Read More

Contents – September 2023

Posted September 1, 2023

Contents – September 2023

A Year as a Commercial Beekeeper — September Charles Linder – 953 Genes and Behavior: Lessons from the Hive Gene E. Robinson – 958 Honey Cleanup without Robbing Randy Oliver – 969 Let’s Talk about Amoeba Disease Etienne Tardif – 971 Selective Breeding Progress Report 2023 Randy Oliver – 983 Musings of an Old-timer, Part …

Read More

VIEW SITE MAP