SWARMS
It's a bee colony's reproductive behavior. Can you and should you stop it in your apiary? How to catch swarms, and more.
PREDATORS
Yes, bees have predators! Learn how to identify them and prepare your colonies for possible threats.
PREDATORS
Yes, bees have predators! Learn how to identify them and prepare your colonies for possible threats.
SOCIAL MEDIA
A great way to get information, both good and bad, from fellow hobby beekeepers.
SOCIAL MEDIA
A great way to get information, both good and bad, from fellow hobby beekeepers.
SOCIAL MEDIA
A great way to get information, both good and bad, from fellow hobby beekeepers.
WAX & OTHER HIVE PRODUCTS
Wax, propolis, pollin, bee venim for lip balm, tinctures, soap and more. It's not just about the honey!
PREDATORS
Yes, bees have predators! Learn how to identify them and prepare your colonies for possible threats.
SOCIAL MEDIA
A great way to get information, both good and bad, from fellow hobby beekeepers.
SOCIAL MEDIA
A great way to get information, both good and bad, from fellow hobby beekeepers.
PREDATORS
Yes, bees have predators! Learn how to identify them and prepare your colonies for possible threats.
PREDATORS
Yes, bees have predators! Learn how to identify them and prepare your colonies for possible threats.
PREDATORS
Yes, bees have predators! Learn how to identify them and prepare your colonies for possible threats.
PREDATORS
Yes, bees have predators! Learn how to identify them and prepare your colonies for possible threats.
SOCIAL MEDIA
A great way to get information, both good and bad, from fellow hobby beekeepers.
SOCIAL MEDIA
A great way to get information, both good and bad, from fellow hobby beekeepers.
SOCIAL MEDIA
A great way to get information, both good and bad, from fellow hobby beekeepers.
BEE HEALTH
Honey Bees are amazingly well-adapted to nearly any climate and terrain on earth. But they are also vulnerable to sickness, harmful chemicals and parasites. A basic understanding of the most common problems will help you recognize them on your next hive inspection.
Varroa Mites • Varroa Mites • Varroa Mites
Varroa Destructor is the #1, #2 and #3 top problem for bees. Nearly every single beehive in the world (except for Australia) is infected with these parasites.
Varroa attaches to the bee's body and weakens it by sucking fat bodies. In the process, Varroa spreads debilitating bee diseases such as deformed wing virus, eventually leading to the death of the entire colony. We could build an entire web site just on the topic of Varroa, but the most important things to learn are how to test for it and how to treat with your own Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan.
https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org/varroa/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varroa_destructor
https://extension.psu.edu/methods-to-control-varroa-mites-an-integrated-pest-management-approach
Testing for Varroa
https://www.ent.iastate.edu/pollinators/video/how-check-varroa-mite-alcohol-wash
https://www.ent.iastate.edu/pollinators/video/how-check-varroa-mite-sugar-shake
Varroa Treatments
Whether or not to treat your bee colonies with chemicals is a very personal decision that requires a lot of study and some personal heart ache. Pesticides that kill Varroa can also be harmful to bees. Using no chemical treatments can often kill an entire colony. While some beekeepers have developed long-term treatment-free plans with success, most of us that try it will fail and fail quickly.
If you choose to treat with chemicals do it carefully and realize there are risks. The Honeybee Health Coalition is a great place to get started learning about which chemicals to use and when. https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org/varroa/
https://carolinahoneybees.com/finding-varroa-mite-treatment-bees/
For a treatment-free approach you might want to start by visiting our Treatment-Free category. Either way, make a plan to deal with Varroa Destructor.
American Foul Brood
When it comes to diseases, AFB is certainly one of the nastiest. It is spore-born bacterial disease that can infest and kill even the strongest colonies. Because the spores remain viable for over 50 years and are resistant to cleaning, freezing and high temperatures, the recommended treatment is often burning the hives. If you suspect AFB reach out to your local bee inspector before it spreads among other hives and apiaries. Learn more with these resources:
https://beeaware.org.au/archive-pest/american-foulbrood/#ad-image-0
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_foulbrood
https://beeinformed.org/2013/10/21/american-foulbrood-afb/
https://extension.psu.edu/honey-bee-diseases-american-foulbrood
European Foul Brood
EFB is AFB's less deadly cousin. It is a bacteria that infects larvae and competes for larval food which results in the larvae dying of starvation. Infected brood appear curled, brown or yellow. Strong colonies can usually deal with EFB on their own, but weaker ones may need antibiotic treatment. Again, reach out to your local bee inspector for assistance in diagnosing and treating EFB.
https://beeaware.org.au/archive-pest/european-foulbrood/#ad-image-0
https://txbeeinspection.tamu.edu/european-foulbrood/
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN1272
https://bee-health.extension.org/european-foulbrood-a-bacterial-disease-affecting-honey-bee-brood/
Nosema
Nosema Apis is a fungus and the most common disease among honey bees. Dysentery in and around the hive is often attributed to Nosema. The infection causes bees difficulty in digesting food and will cause the queen to stop laying eggs. Like EFB, the only known treatment is antibiotics which must be prescribed by a qualified veterinarian.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nosema_apis
https://beeaware.org.au/archive-pest/nosema/#ad-image-0
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2019.00079/full
https://veterinaryresearch.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1297-9716-44-25
Deformed Wing Virus
Among the 20+ viruses affecting honey bees is Deformed Wing Virus. DWV is commonly spread in hives by Varroa mites and is another symptom of mite infestation. The best way to control DWV is by controlling the Varroa load in your hives.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-47447-3
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deformed_wing_virus
Pestices & Other Chemicals
Pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, polluted water... the list goes on and on. While we may be extra careful about using these chemicals on our own property, our bees can travel up to 2 miles in each direction to forage for food and water. Most of us have no control over what happens that far from home, but that doesn't mean we can't do anything. For example, if your neighbors grow Roundup resistant alfalfa you can find out when they will be spraying and encourage them to spray only when the crop is not flowering. Or if your county sprays road-side weeds with 2,4-D you might encourage them to read and follow the label's instructions of never spraying on days when high temperatures will be over 85F. And if your area sprays pesticides for mosquitos be sure to keep your bees covered during the applications.
Pesticides are obviously the biggest problem, but herbicides like Roundup can also be deadly to a colony. Many chemicals, though non-lethal at first, build up in wax comb and over time can affect reproductive and neurologic systems in honey bees eventually causing a colony's complete collapse.