breeding

Breeder Queen Selection
December 22, 2022 · · Beekeeping 101

Here’s a short guide for breeder queen selection: what to look for when assessing and what you can expect along the way.

Read More
What are Ankle-Biter Bees?
January 12, 2022 · · Ask the Expert

Purdue ankle-biters are a type of honey bee developed at Purdue University after beekeepers noticed that some honey bees bit the legs off dislodged varroa mites. Individual bees with this hygienic trait were inbred in order to increase the incidence of the genetic alleles that produced the behavior. The result of this breeding program yielded the so-called ankle-biters.

Read More
5 Honey Bees to Consider, Including Buckfast Bees
December 7, 2021 · · 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?

Read More
Successfully Installing Packaged Bees

Packaged bees have become an annual addition to many beekeeping operations, so the skills you learn successfully installing them the first time will be repeated in the years to come.

Read More