The Beekeeper’s Companion Since 1861
American Bee Journal Volume 166 No. 2 February 2026 Cover Callouts: The Tremble Dance: A Hidden Language - 153, honey bees search for sodium - 193, iNaturlaist on the Apiary -147

Queen Introduction: Historical Cages Part 1

Queen bee cages
Posted June 1, 2020

Queen Introduction: Historical Cages Part 1

Requeening is an important component of bee management. Replacing old queens with young vigorous egg-layers helps keep colonies strong and productive. Queen replacement also gives the beekeeper control over the stock to maintain gentleness, disease and mite tolerance, reduced inclination to swarm, and high honey production. The basic strategy of requeening is straightforward in principle. …

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Even Beekeeping Isn’t Immune to COVID-19

beekeepers in bee yard with hives
Posted June 1, 2020

Even Beekeeping Isn’t Immune to COVID-19

Uncertainty over the supply of packages and queens to Canada should make us re-evaluate the sustainability of our practices If any industry should be sheltered from the shock of COVID-19, it should be beekeeping. After all, beekeepers have been socially distancing since the day we picked up our hive tools. But on March 23, I …

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Is oxalic acid vaporization and/or brood interruption effective at controlling varroa?

beekeepers in protective clothing
Posted June 1, 2020

Is oxalic acid vaporization and/or brood interruption effective at controlling varroa?

Perhaps it’s the wrong time of year to be writing about oxalic acid (OA). Most beekeepers apply this treatment in late fall or winter when brood is absent from colonies. But brood gaps can occur in mid-summer, especially if you’re creating those brood gaps as part of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) varroa control strategy. …

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The Vocabulary for Pollination

bee pollination
Posted June 1, 2020

The Vocabulary for Pollination

Those new to the world of bees often believe that honey bees can pollinate anything. Some beekeepers are barely aware of oth­er pollinators or the great diversity among them. But the single-pollina­tor theory couldn’t be further from the truth. Instead, millions of years of evolution have brought plants and specific pollinators together, each trading for …

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Drawn Comb is Gold

beehive frames with bees
Posted June 1, 2020

Drawn Comb is Gold

In April I wrote about methods for swarm control. I’ve been giving a ‘live’ version of that article all over the country — talking to bee clubs through zoom to make sure beekeepers everywhere aren’t going to lose their valuable overwintered bees to the trees (or to their neighbor’s soffits). After every talk, the main …

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June 2020

Posted June 1, 2020

June 2020

International Honey Market Report Ron Phipps – 615 Summer Reads: Book Reviews Carol Hrusovszky and Tina Sebestyen – 631 For Today at Least, It is Spring Mary Bammer – 641 Naturally Mite-resistant Colonies Evolve On Hawaii Stephen Martin – 649 Beekeeping in the United States: A New Century — The 1800s Peter L. Borst – …

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June 2020 ABJ Cover

Posted June 1, 2020

June 2020 ABJ Cover

Spring splits: Michael Kelling of Brenham, Texas, took this photo while helping a commercial beekeeper split hives. Each double-deep colony was divided into a nuc (for sale) and two single deeps, with queen cells added to all three.

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The Classroom – May 2020

The Classroom - ABJ - Jamie Ellis
Posted May 1, 2020

The Classroom – May 2020

Q  Attracting Swarms My last colony moved out and I’m now beeless. I’ve got lots of hive bodies and I don’t want to chase swarms. Any advice on how I may attract swarms to move into my existing equipment? Bob Dye Missouri, February A Sorry to hear that you are beeless at the moment. I …

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Letters to the Editor – May 2020

Posted May 1, 2020

Letters to the Editor – May 2020

Never Give Up I promised my step dad I would send this picture to you. His name is Harold Brown and he has H.B. Honey in Calipatria, California, in the Imperial Valley. He has been a beekeeper ever since he was a young teenager. He is now 78 and is still at it. He thought …

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Shipping Bees a Century Ago

Old Package Bees Container
Posted May 1, 2020

Shipping Bees a Century Ago

With the arrival of spring, my thoughts turn to shipping bees –– from a century ago, give or take a decade, maybe two. Several years ago, I gave a brief historical beginning of the package bee industry in American Bee Journal, using my collection of old shipping packages as original artifacts, acquired after hunting them …

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