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

New evidence for large-scale pollinator declines in Britain

bee on flower
Posted June 1, 2019

New evidence for large-scale pollinator declines in Britain

Pollinator declines. We’ve all heard the phrase, but what does it actually mean? I get this question all the time, and the answer is less straightforward than you might think. What evidence is there that these so-called “declines” are occurring? And are they occurring everywhere, or only in some areas with some particular species? These …

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The Marvel of Mandibles

honey bee mandibles
Posted June 1, 2019

The Marvel of Mandibles

Dogs. Cats. Mice. Your next-door neighbor. What do they all have in common? One answer is a moveable lower jaw. In fact, lots of creatures have one movable jaw — known as a mandible — and one stationary jaw or maxilla. But your bees, along with many other invertebrates, have two movable jaws, both known …

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ISRAELI SCIENTISTS FIND A FLOWER THEY SAY CAN HEAR APPROACHING BEES

Posted June 1, 2019

ISRAELI SCIENTISTS FIND A FLOWER THEY SAY CAN HEAR APPROACHING BEES

Using petals as ears, the evening primrose sweetens its nectar in minutes when it hears sounds at the frequency of bees’ wing-beats Israeli scientists at Tel Aviv University say they have found a flower that hears the approach of pollinating bees and hawk-moths and produces extra and sweeter nectar in response. Using the evening primrose, …

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DOMESTIC BEEKEEPERS’ MARKETPLACE OFFERS SWEET OPPORTUNITIES FOR BEEKEEPERS AND CONSUMERS NATIONWIDE

Posted June 1, 2019

DOMESTIC BEEKEEPERS’ MARKETPLACE OFFERS SWEET OPPORTUNITIES FOR BEEKEEPERS AND CONSUMERS NATIONWIDE

Beekeepers play an important key role in the fight to end the cycle of bee devastation. However, American apiaries are faced with multifaceted challenges. To list a few: Colony Collapse Disorder Lack of lucrative avenues to sell honey Difficult to compete with cheap imports monopolizing the food industry To address these problems, we have created …

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ONLINE TOOL IDENTIFIES BEST AND SAFEST PLACES TO KEEP BEES

Posted June 1, 2019

ONLINE TOOL IDENTIFIES BEST AND SAFEST PLACES TO KEEP BEES

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Honeybees play essential roles in pollinating plants that humans and animals rely on for food. Declines in bee populations – including 20 percent of honeybee colonies per year in Indiana – threaten our food supply. Insecticide exposure, loss of flowering plants, and fewer nesting habitats, disease and parasites are all factors. …

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Letters to the Editor – June 2019

bees on exterior of painted hive
Posted June 1, 2019

Letters to the Editor – June 2019

New Bees I am very new at beekeeping, having received my nucs less than a week ago. I enjoy nature photography and have been observing the girls. I love this photo of them collecting pollen and resin — they are settling in nicely at their home in Robertsville. Thanks for the great information your magazine …

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June 2019

Posted June 1, 2019

June 2019

Book Reviews Carol Hrusovszky, MEA McNeil, Leo Sharashkin – 643 Selective Breeding for Mite-Resistance: Two-Year Progress Report Randy Oliver – 653 Successful Organic Farmers: The Key to a Good Future For Beekeeping Kirk Webster – 687 The Amazing Honey Bee: Dr. Tom Seeley on Bees’ Emotions, Stunning Abilities, and His New Book Leo Sharashkin – …

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June 2019 ABJ Cover

ABJ COVER JUNE 2019
Posted June 1, 2019

June 2019 ABJ Cover

I took this picture of my beehives in April.  It was a sunny spring day, and I’d just finished inspecting the hives in my backyard. The Azaleas were blooming pink and white, matching the colors of the beehives. Taylor Guilford, Woodbridge, Virginia

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The Classroom – May 2019

The Classroom - American Bee Journal
Posted May 1, 2019

The Classroom – May 2019

Q  A Sauna for the Bees Hi Jerry! Thanks for all your help and humorous advice through the years, I always enjoy your column and read it first! I have been talking with a fellow apiary inspector about the various gizmos that heat a frame or hive to “kill mites.” The one below says that …

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Letters to the Editor – May 2019

Posted May 1, 2019

Letters to the Editor – May 2019

Overachiever I keep a hive in my backyard as a hobby. I discovered this little lady last spring about 3 feet from the hive … she was so loaded down she couldn’t make it back in! I let her rest then gave her a lift back into the box. Overachiever! Michelle Mettert Fort Wayne, Indiana …

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