The Beekeeper’s Companion Since 1861
Cover for the November 2024 issue of the American Bee Journal. The cover depicts a painting of a bee hive in the foreground surrounded by lavender, with seveal white building with brown roofs in the background. Call-outs: The honey bee is not the enemy - 1185, DWV: Is there a vaccine for that? - 1175, Unlocking the sexuality of the honey bee - 1179

BEES FOR DEVELOPMENT CELEBRATES WORLD BEE DAY WITH SILVER-GILT MEDAL AND VISIT FROM HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN AT RHS CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW

Posted August 1, 2024

BEES FOR DEVELOPMENT CELEBRATES WORLD BEE DAY WITH SILVER-GILT MEDAL AND VISIT FROM HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN AT RHS CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW

Bees for Development is buzzing with excitement to announce that they have been awarded the prestigious Silver-Gilt Medal at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show for their exhibit, Making Life Better with Bees. This accolade adds a special significance to their celebrations on World Bee Day — Monday 20 May 2024, including a visit from Her …

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BEE FRIENDLY MISSOURI: MSBA’S NEW LICENSE PLATE INITIATIVE

Posted August 1, 2024

BEE FRIENDLY MISSOURI: MSBA’S NEW LICENSE PLATE INITIATIVE

The Missouri State Beekeepers Association (MSBA) has embarked on a project to support beekeeping and raise awareness about the importance of bees: the “Bee Friendly Missouri” license plate. This initiative is not just about adding a unique touch to vehicles, but represents a significant step in promoting bee conservation and supporting local beekeepers in Missouri. …

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Contents-August 2024

Posted August 1, 2024

Contents-August 2024

International Honey Market Report Ron Phipps – 805 Some Old Swarm Terms Peter L Borst – 835 A Commercial Perspective – August Already Randy Oliver – 863 Adventures with Queens Tina Sebestyen – 869 How I Caught My Pickup on Fire Kirk Kirksey – 874 Creating a Pollinator Paradise Means Making Tough Decisions Peter Keilty …

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ABJ AUGUST 2024 COVER

The cover for the August issue of the American Bee Journal. The cover depicts a closeup of a single sunflower with a bee heading towards the flower and greenery in the background. There are three call outs on the cover along with the logo.
Posted August 1, 2024

ABJ AUGUST 2024 COVER

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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The Classroom – July 2024

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

The Classroom – July 2024

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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Bee-Free Honey and Modern Farming: A Body Count

Produce display at a grocery store depicting a number of different vegetables.
Posted July 1, 2024

Bee-Free Honey and Modern Farming: A Body Count

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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EFB and AFB in the USA: Trends Between 2015 and 2022

A man dressed in a white lab coat and gloves is depicted holding and inspecting a a piece of honey comb in a lab setting checking for American Foulbrood (AFB).
Posted July 1, 2024

EFB and AFB in the USA: Trends Between 2015 and 2022

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 …

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Ants: A Pest of Bees or Beekeepers?

Posted July 1, 2024

Ants: A Pest of Bees or Beekeepers?

Why 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. …

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A Beekeeper’s Introduction to the Other Stinging Insects – Paper Wasps, Yellow Jackets, and Hornets: Part 2

Posted July 1, 2024

A Beekeeper’s Introduction to the Other Stinging Insects – Paper Wasps, Yellow Jackets, and Hornets: Part 2

In 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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Keeping Bees is More Fun with Knowledge

A beekeeper performing a sugar-roll mite check. the beekeeper is holding the jar of bees over a white container on a black wire table clothed in a beekeepers jacket and veil with gloves.
Posted July 1, 2024

Keeping Bees is More Fun with Knowledge

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, …

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