Thomas Seeley’s article on Darwinian beekeeping has unleashed a fury of discussion among beekeepers. Of particular interest are the ways in which feral colonies handle parasites and pathogens. Feral bees do not have beekeeper assistance, yet many of them do fine without it. The article, “Darwinian Beekeeping: An Evolutionary Approach to Apiculture” in the March […] Read more
If I could change the direction of modern beekeeping, I would insist on responsibility. The more I read about the health crisis of honey bees, the more I think we beekeepers have created our own problems. It’s convenient to blame everyone else, but outside influences are only part of the story. Having said that, if […] Read more
Splits and Varroa: An introduction to splitting hives as part of Varroa control by William Hesbach. Copyright © 2016. Northern Bee Books, West Yorkshire, UK. Paperbound. When a colony is without a laying queen long enough that no open brood is left in the hive, varroa mites have no place to reproduce. This lack of […] Read more
“If one more speaker starts yapping about Varroa mites, I’m gettin’ up and walkin’ out!” The grumbler sitting next to me in the audience didn’t know me and didn’t know I was the next speaker. And yap I did. My topic? Deformed wing virus. Honestly, I can’t blame the guy for feeling that way. I […] Read more
Today I’m going to write eloquently about something I know nothing about. I realize some of you will think that’s not unusual, so I forgive you in advance. The thing on my mind today is the pronunciation of the word “Varroa.” I was always taught that scientific names are a bit wishy-washy when it comes […] Read more
For beekeepers who treat for varroa mites, oxalic acid has become the default favorite miticide. It is inexpensive, a natural component of honey, safe for bees when used as directed, and is drop-dead effective. But being beekeepers, we can’t agree on anything, so the disagreement about how to apply oxalic acid rages on. The US […] Read more
In the off chance you haven’t seen this video, prepare to be amazed. After watching it dozens of times, I’m still mesmerized. The video, shot by David Peck of Cornell University, shows a Varroa mite hanging out on a composite flower. She is alone and can’t see. But as soon as a honey bees lands […] Read more