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[New post] The bees, like the beekeeper, are preparing for the season ahead. Much of this early work is done by the — now very old — overwintered workers. What are the signs of spring to look out for and how to protect these bees from starvation at this critical time. buff.ly/GEoj3ar #beekeeping

submitted 3 days ago • 1 comment

www.beeculture.com/survey-revea... L'apiculture américaine pourrait bien se trouver à la croisée des chemins. On parle des pertes les plus sévères depuis l'arrivée du varroa sur le continent.

submitted 11 days ago • 0 comments

[New post for sponsors] Frame symmetry, nest symmetry and hive asymmetry. How it is created, why it exists and how colony inspections might disrupt it (and how to avoid the disruption). https://buff.ly/4i0wuG0 #beekeeping

submitted 12 days ago • 0 comments

[New post] Beemageddon in the US? And avoiding it in the UK by the use of approved miticides at the right time (and why 30% of beekeepers apparently don't). I read the tortuous statistics, so you didn't have to 😜. https://buff.ly/3CFICgB #beekeeping

submitted 18 days ago • 1 comment

[New post] Other than preventing you lighting your smoker, how else does the wind affect your bees or beekeeping? It topples hives, makes bees fly at different altitudes, reduces foraging rates and - indirectly - causes social parasitism by Cape honey bees https://buff.ly/4gvul3S #beekeeping

submitted 25 days ago • 2 comments

Another excellent and entertaining post from Athayde Tonhasca at Scottish pollinators about the nest entrances of bees. Amazing stuff. Love the Partamona testacea nesting underground IN a termite's nest. scottishpollinators.wordpress.com/2025/02/03/b... #nativebees #socialinsects

submitted 30 days ago • 0 comments

[New post for sponsors] The vertical split is a convenient swarm control method if you're short of equipment or space. It is easy to implement, requires minimal hive manipulations and very effective. https://theapiarist.org/how-to-the-vertical-split/ #beekeeping #beginners

submitted 33 days ago • 0 comments

[New post] Winter is a convenient time for apiary maintenance, but moving hives requires careful planning and suitable weather. And, while you're at it, give them some fondant if the hives are underweight. https://buff.ly/4h2sMeG #beekeeping

submitted 39 days ago • 0 comments

[New post] Beekeeping remains popular, but many underestimate the time and commitment involved. The rewards are considerable, but it's important to be realistic about the effort needed to achieve them. https://theapiarist.org/so-you-want-to-be-a-beekeeper/ #beekeeping

submitted 46 days ago • 1 comment

[Post from the past] Here's my take on rational Varroa control ... late summer, when broodless in winter and mid-season (if needed). The 'when' and the 'why then'. Also in BBKA and SBA news, August '21 https://buff.ly/404CxSp #beekeeping

submitted 56 days ago • 0 comments

Happy New Year! We want to see an end to the illegal killing of Hen Harriers, Golden Eagles, Buzzards, Short-eared Owls, Red Kites, White-tailed Eagles, Peregrines etc. If you do too, pls sign & share our petition to ban driven grouse shooting petition.parliament.uk/petitions/70... #ornithology

submitted 58 days ago • 3 comments

[New post] Achievable New Year's resolutions for beekeepers, the conservative nature of beekeeping and why things vary so much (which might explain why beekeepers often cannot agree) https://buff.ly/40k9ATN #beekeeping

submitted 59 days ago • 0 comments

[Post from the Past] If you have yet to treat your colonies with oxalic acid (Api-Bioxal) then don't delay. The colony should be broodless or have minimal brood levels. Why? Here are some popular oxalic acid Q&A from 2020, equally relevant today:

submitted 64 days ago • 1 comment

[New post] A midsummer tale for the middle of winter ... summer storms and replacing a queen in an aggressive colony. Happy New Year https://theapiarist.org/the-gentle-art-of-beekeeping/ #beekeeping #bolshie #tea_and_cake

submitted 68 days ago • 0 comments

Santa's not the only one with dwarfs ... first report of an established colony of red dwarf honey bees (Apis florea) in Europe. beemusings.theapiarist.org/red-dwarfs-i...

submitted 71 days ago • 0 comments

[New post] What's hot and what's not? What was most read on The Apiarist in 2024, and what does this tell us about the beekeeping year, other than the continued interest in 'mad honey'? https://theapiarist.org/the-apiarist-in-2024/ #beekeeping

submitted 73 days ago • 0 comments

There's an interesting paper from Minaud et al., (2024) on temperature monitoring of overwintering honey bee colonies. If their temperature does not fluctuate, they're probably doomed, and you can predict the 'dead outs' a month before they perish. beemusings.theapiarist.org/chronicle-of...

submitted 80 days ago • 0 comments

[New post] 2024 in retrospect Gone, but not forgotten. The highs and lows of the beekeeping season, ignoring all the messy bits, mistakes and things I'd rather forget. Another year older, another year wiser ... perhaps. https://buff.ly/4gd3mdL #beekeeping

submitted 81 days ago • 0 comments

A shocking headline figure BUT (a big but 😉) where is the evidence that the self-reported data is representative? If the 87% of hives NOT represented in the survey all survived, then the actual losses are <5% ... if those 87% lost only 5% then the actual losses are ~11.5%.

submitted 88 days ago • 1 comment

New post for sponsors The how, when and why of winter oxalic acid treatment ... this ensures a good start to the season ahead, and may contribute positively to the reduction of miticide resistance.

submitted 88 days ago • 0 comments

The first of an infrequent and irregular series of very short 'musings' that don't justify a full 3,000 word post ... or, don't yet justify it 😉. 'Welcome' or 'About' explains where they're not simply posted here or to Mastodon. #beekeeping @write.as beemusings.theapiarist.org/smoker-fuel

submitted 90 days ago • 0 comments

Another interesting and well researched post from Athayde Tonhasca on Scottish Pollinators ... why small garden, or small patches of forage, matter for pollinators, and the contribution they make to nectar availability. Worth a read 😀

submitted 92 days ago • 1 comment

Post from the past I don't think I'm going to write a post on Xmas presents for beekeepers this year, as it would probably consist of the same things as last year ... go on, treat yourself 😜 https://buff.ly/3ZxoLIY

submitted 92 days ago • 0 comments

New post Pollination activity and how to influence it, and the production of even bigger, better queens ... two examples of how science provides insights to the fascinating biology of bees. https://buff.ly/3OuWWKW #beekeeping

submitted 95 days ago • 0 comments

New post for sponsors ... oxalic acid, apivar and - peripherally related - the mandatory registration of beekeepers, plus why the Asian hornet is now the Yellow-legged hornet.

submitted 98 days ago • 0 comments

1 week to go til we take you to the Emerald Isle to find out more about Irish Beekeeping & Bell Heather Honey. We're delighted Paul Boyle will join us next Weds attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/471... #scottishbeekeepers #beekeeping #honeybee #webinar #education #irishbeekeeping #heatherhoney

submitted 99 days ago • 0 comments