Health & Pests
Nosema Disease in Honey Bees
Nosema is a serious disease of honey bees caused by a microsporidian. A microsporidian is a type of single-celled fungus that reproduces by spores. The nosema organisms live and reproduce …
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Chalkbrood Disease in Honey Bees
Of all the disease names, chalkbrood paints the most vivid picture. Even if you’ve never seen chalkbrood symptoms, white chunks of mummified brood are hard to mistake for anything else. …
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Using a Beehive Inspection Checklist
The only way to know exactly what is going on in a beehive is to actually take a peek inside. This can be intimidating, especially to a new beekeeper, but …
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How do Bees Mate?
An interesting and deadly dance takes place all across the world; in fact, it’s necessary for human survival and yet goes unnoticed by humans year after year. The dance is …
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Bee Weather Series – How to Help Bees During Spring Rain and Storms
Spring rain is a welcome sight to a homesteader who is busy sowing seeds and planting crops. However, those same spring rains can turn into devastating storms that often leave …
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American Foulbrood: the Bad Brood is Back!
American Foulbrood is a bacterial apiary disease that spreads between hives. And it has the potential to wipe out the entire industry.
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Installing a New Queen Bee to Change Genetics
Changing genetics (and achieving diversity) can be achieved by installing a new queen bee or “requeening.” Is this the solution to better overwintering in the Northeast?
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Why Did My Newly Installed Bees Make a Queen Cell? Ask the Expert.
Today was inspection day and I found what appears to be a queen cell … yikes!? I’ve read a lot of different things about these and I am freaking out a …
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Creating the Best Water Sources for Bees
Like all animals, honey bees need a dependable source of water year round. The best water sources for bees are ones that won’t go dry in the summer, won’t drown …
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What Happens When the Queen Bee Dies?
By Perry and Beverly Riley – Raising honeybees is a challenge. One day your hive looks good and a few days later you wonder if it’s going to live. There are all …
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