WHEN YOU FIND A SWARM ON THE GROUND
Honey bee swarms can land anywhere. I’ve found them on everything from beach umbrellas to garbage cans. The most convenient swarms hang from low limbs like ripe fruit, almost as if they are waiting for a beekeeper to come along. Sometimes a swarm gathers at an...
WHEN THE QUEEN DIES IN YOUR PACKAGE OF BEES
A dead queen in your brand-new package of bees is never a welcome sight. It can be especially distressing to new beekeepers. Yet, it is not an uncommon problem. Read on to find out about common scenarios that could result in the death of your queen bee and what to do...
WHY DO BEEKEEPERS CHARGE FOR LIVE BEE REMOVAL?
While it's true that some hobbyist beekeepers will gleefully remove a colony of bees for free, many beekeepers charge for live bee removal. This inconsistency among beekeepers can create some confusing expectations for homeowners. Unfortunately, it may also result in...
2 MILLION BLOSSOMS MAGAZINE
Introducing a new quarterly magazine dedicated to educating the public about pollinators. Learn what dangers they face and how we can help them. Created by honey bee biologist Dr. Kirsten Traynor, 2 Million Blossoms will provide a much needed space for smart, nuanced...
HOW TO FIND A BEEKEEPING MENTOR
New beekeepers are often advised to go to their local beekeeping club to find a mentor, but little else is said about the subject which can lead to confusion and disappointment. Read on to find out what you need to know about finding a beekeeping mentor and how to go...
5 FASCINATING FACTS ABOUT STINGLESS BEES
If you're in the U.S., you might not have heard of stingless bees because well, we don't have them here. Stingless bees are found only in a few lucky pockets of the world. Read on to find out what we are missing out on with these amazing bees. They Are Tropical Some...
HOW TO KEEP A NEWLY CAUGHT SWARM FROM LEAVING
Swarm catching season is well underway and many of you have been enjoying the thrill of capturing your first swarms. Catching swarms is one of my favorite things in beekeeping, but it can also lead to one of the biggest disappointments: absconding! Too often...
WHY FIND THE QUEEN BEE?
When I tell new beekeepers that it's not necessary to find the queen bee every time they inspect their hives, their face usually takes on an expression of relief. Finding the queen bee is challenging, even sometimes for experienced beekeepers. And while it's true that...
QUEENSPOTTING: HOW TO FIND YOUR QUEEN BEE
Since 2012 I have been playing a game called Queenspotting with my followers on social media. I post an image of a lot of bees and then challenge people to find the queen among the sea of workers. Think Where's Waldo, but bees. Initially, I was just having a bit of...
MIXING FOUNDATION & FOUNDATIONLESS FRAMES
Many beekeepers are intimidated by foundationless beekeeping. They aren't sure their bees have enough time build out before winter without assistance or they worry about cross-comb. They often ask me, "Can I do a mix of some frames with foundation and some without?"...