The Beekeeper’s Companion Since 1861
American Bee Journal Volume 166 No. 4 April 2026 Cover features children's art work depicting honey bees. Callouts: Reduce Supersedure in Packages - 443, Why the hexagon - 419, Educating the Future - 403

MISSOURI AUTHOR RECEIVES NATIONAL RECOGNITION THROUGH INDEPENDENT PRESS AWARD

A Beekeeper's Diary Self-Guide to Keeping Bees
Posted May 1, 2022

MISSOURI AUTHOR RECEIVES NATIONAL RECOGNITION THROUGH INDEPENDENT PRESS AWARD

March 14, 2022, Glen Ridge, N.J. — The 2022 Independent Press Award (IPA) recognized A Beekeeper’s Diary Self-Guide to Keeping Bees by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins as a first place winner. The book was chosen as the best in the “How to” nonfiction category. The 310-page paperback guides new beekeepers on how to set up, and …

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Contents – May 2022

Posted May 1, 2022

Contents – May 2022

Virgin Queens Take the Throne Best Trevor Bawden – 507 2022 Extended-release Oxalic Update — Part 3 Randy Oliver – 515 Colony Confidential … What Really Goes on Inside the Hive Chapter 4: Rescue Ops Peter Keilty, with illustrations by Bridget White – 526 AHPA 2021 Conference — A Reunion Worth Waiting For Mattie Joiner …

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ABJ COVER MAY 2022

May 2022 ABJ
Posted May 1, 2022

ABJ COVER MAY 2022

Bees become close friends and allies for beekeepers. The queen shown on our cover was named Eleanor, after Eleanor Vander Ark, who called beekeeper Ben Witte to come get the swarm of bees that were trying to find a home under her bay window in Churchill, Montana. She was superseded in 2021 and will be …

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The Classroom – April 2022

The Classroom - ABJ - Jamie Ellis
Posted April 1, 2022

The Classroom – April 2022

Q  OAV vs. Apivar in winter  There is a difference of opinion on whether or not to use Apivar in late December/early January or use an oxalic acid vapor (OAV) treatment. Some do OAV and not Apivar; however, old-schoolers seem to prefer the strips. Some think it is too risky putting strips into a cluster …

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Swarm Basics, Part 1

Honey Bee Swarm
Posted April 1, 2022

Swarm Basics, Part 1

If you have been a beekeeper for even a couple of seasons you will recognize swarming is a frequent topic discussed in the bee magazines. Much has been written about swarming. Despite all the information, swarming remains one of the big challenges to beekeepers. Swarming means different things to different people. L.L. Langstroth called swarming …

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Is There Really an Insect Apocalypse?

insects
Posted April 1, 2022

Is There Really an Insect Apocalypse?

Questions over the real status of insect populations shouldn’t prevent conservation efforts Most children can’t wait for summer to arrive, but I was not among them. I spent my childhood on a far-flung homestead on British Columbia’s coast, surrounded by rocky beaches, thick forests, fog, and choppy waters. It was beautiful, and comfortable, except in …

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America’s Most Wanted is a Master Carpenter

Eastern Carpenter Bee
Posted April 1, 2022

America’s Most Wanted is a Master Carpenter

Emblazoned t-shirts, coffee mugs, and license plate frames exhort us to “Save the Bees!” Scores of organizations single out species of concern, such as honey bees or native bees, while others promote any old bee. According to a representative of the Xerces Society, bee training seminars that once attracted a half-dozen participants now attract hundreds. …

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Almond growers should avoid using insecticides and adjuvants during bloom

beekeeper tending hives
Posted April 1, 2022

Almond growers should avoid using insecticides and adjuvants during bloom

As I write this article, approximately 2.1 million honey bee colonies are pollinating ~1.3 million acres of nut-producing almond trees in California. Since the estimated number of colonies in the United States is 2.92 million according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, that means ~70% of the country’s managed honey bee colonies are currently …

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Bee Eggs: Soon You Will be Searching for Them

bee-egg biology
Posted April 1, 2022

Bee Eggs: Soon You Will be Searching for Them

Finding honey bee eggs in brood combs is a necessary beekeeping skill. Understanding how they can indicate a queen problem is important to know in bee management. Knowing other aspects of bee-egg biology is fascinating and enriches our beekeeping experience. In this article we will look at some historical observations along with the results of …

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Letters to the Editor – April 2022

Posted April 1, 2022

Letters to the Editor – April 2022

We enjoyed Peter Grayman’s letter in the December issue, “Feelings, Priorities, and the Joy of Beekeeping.” Working with bees feels good; “a well-done job evokes a sense of satisfaction in the heart.” Caring for honeybees serves the harmonization of the world around us and brings a sense of joy and satisfaction and makes the world …

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