Beekeeping 101 Archives - Backyard Beekeeping

Giant Honeybee Shimmering Bee-Havior

May 20, 2026 · Patrice Lewis · Beekeeping 101

Learn about the giant honeybee shimmering behavior as a defense strategy to ward off predatory wasps and hornets.

Swarm Prevention Methods

June 11, 2025 · Backyard Beekeeping Contributor · Beekeeping 101

Though swarming is a natural, colony-level reproductive process, it’s often viewed as beekeeper negligence. Learn swarm prevention methods so you don’t lose honeybees or potential hive products.

Different Ways to Obtain Bees

June 10, 2025 · Kristi Cook · Beekeeping 101

There are several ways to obtain bees locally and from afar in the form of swarms, packages, cutouts/trap outs, and nuclei.

Your Seasonal Beekeeping Calendar

June 7, 2025 · Josh Vaisman · Beekeeping 101

When you are new to beekeeping, it’s good to have a game plan. Today let’s explore a seasonal beekeeping calendar and your to-do’s throughout the year.

5 Honey Bees to Consider, Including Buckfast Bees

March 4, 2025 · Angi Schneider · Beekeeping 101

One of the first questions a beekeeper asks is, “What kind of bees should I keep?” There are many bees to choose from: Carniolan, German, Italian, Russian, and Buckfast bees, to name a few. Which is the right one to keep?

How Do Bees Communicate with Each Other?

January 17, 2025 · Patrice Lewis · Beekeeping 101

How do bees communicate with each other? Learn about different honey bee pheromones, the chemical substances secreted by exocrine glands, and the hive tasks they achieve.

Do Bees Eat Meat?

January 16, 2025 · Patrice Lewis · Beekeeping 101

Do bees eat meat? Meet carrion-eating vulture bees that live in Central and South America and feed off dead carcasses to produce meat honey for baby bees to grow.