Sunflowers typically bloom in late summer or early autumn, and are a favorite feast for pollinators, including our beloved honey bees. Our cover photo was taken in August 2022 by Chris Banks, of Banks Honeybee Homestead in Chapmansboro, Tennessee.
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Q Stopping sugar water fermentation Nelson Pomeroy, in his book “Bumblebee Keeper” describes how Koppert solved the problem of fermenting syrup a long time ago: 0.05% potassium sorbate. The explanation is on page 108. Chris May Australia, April A Thanks for the information. I confess that I am answering this question prior to getting access to …
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Parents can’t help but grin when their children insist that food comes from grocery stores. Where else? But many adults know little more than their kids, especially about modern farming. Many of us still envision Old MacDonald, the friendly farmer with the dog and the duck, the goat and the goose, surrounded by undulating hills …
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I spend a lot of time worrying about Melissococcus plutonius and Paenibacillus larvae, the bacteria that cause European foulbrood (EFB) and American foulbrood (AFB) diseases, respectively. Both are rare compared to that insidious parasitic varroa mite, but they can cause major problems if they rear their heads in my apiaries. I also teach veterinarians about …
Read MoreWhy did it have to be ants? It happened quickly. Literally, the second day that two nucs were set up, black ants were already in the top feeder of one of the new colonies. Overnight, foraging ants found the internal feeder long before the bees, and the ants had to travel a much greater distance. …
Read MoreIn the previous article, we briefly examined the vast biology of paper wasps and confronted a typical problem with yellow jackets. Here we continue with yellow jackets and finish these descriptions with the European hornet (Vespa crabro). Currently the European hornet is the most similar social insect to the Asian hornets (which occur as 22 …
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I was taught early on that nothing in life is free. If you want something you have to work for it. My introduction to beekeeping started at an early age. I had a father, grandpa, and uncle to guide me. At times I wished that they did something other than keep bees. As a teenager, …
Read MoreQueen Replacement I really enjoyed this excellent article by Eleanor Schumacher [“Queen Status — and Assisting the Coronation,” June], and would like to add my thoughts to her approach to requeening a dud colony. I find a great alternative to the shook swarm (or even hunting for a dud queen or laying bees), that will …
Read MoreBegonias, impatiens, and other popular annual flowers can draw in pollinators— but only if you pick the right cultivars Annapolis, MD; May 13, 2024, Entomological Society of America—While wildflowers and perennials are a must for supporting pollinators, there’s no denying the popularity of many annual flowers for their colorful, visual appeal. Annuals are often thought …
Read MoreA yellow-legged hornet, Vespa velutina Lepeletier, was found in Austria, near the city of Saltzberg, on April 9, 2024, the first time that this hornet has been detected in Austria. This invasive hornet continues its dispersal throughout Europe and was also discovered in the neighboring Czech Republic in 2023. The yellow-legged hornet is believed to …
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- C.P. Dadant, Editor of ABJ 1912-1938
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