Retired NYPD detective Tony Planakis, known as “TonyBees,” was the first person to convince me of the wonders of infrared photography for beekeeping. Once I saw photos of his colonies, I was convinced that infrared was the way to go. But his latest adventure just blew me away. Tony was called to a house in […] Read more
I once described trapping out as a not-so-satisfactory way of removing a colony of bees from an enclosed structure or tree. Trapping requires much beekeeper input during a multi-step process. Even when things go well, a trap-out can leave a dead queen and her brood to decay, and may allow untended honey stores to ferment […] Read more
Except for natural bamboo tubes, it seems that most commercial tunnels sold for pollinator housing have an inside diameter of about 7 to 8 mm for orchard mason bees (Osmia lignaria), 6 mm for blueberry bees (Osmia ribifloris), and 5 mm for both alfalfa leafcutting bees (Megachile rotundata) and raspberry bees (Osmia aglaia). I don’t […] Read more
Many of you have wondered how the colony hanging in a tree in Maupin, Oregon is doing. Well, here is some good news: I just received word that on sunny days when the temperature rises into the 60s, the bees are very busy. They have lined their entrance with propolis and are bringing in fresh […] Read more
This past spring, in a remote little outpost in the high desert of Oregon, a feral swarm of honey bees decided to nest. They chose a massive cottonwood adjacent to a popular campground and hung their combs from its aging limbs. With no protection other than a nearby garage and a canopy of leaves, the […] Read more
Earlier this week, beekeeper Debbe Krape of Delaware was called upon to make an unusual bee rescue. The colony, shown below, was building its new home at the Sunoco Refinery in Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania. On Monday, Debbe sent me a short message along with the photos: We were able to cut the leaves of wax […] Read more