Swarms That Swarm Again
In a prior blog I mentioned that not every spring swarms has a mated older queen but may be an “after-swarm” or “cast” containing a virgin queen. This can drastically change how a colony appears and performs in the first few weeks, causing concern and making the beekeeper wonder if they have a queen at […]
Do all swarms have mated queens?
The answer is yes and no. First, we must define our term “swarm” to help us get the right answer. If we are talking about the very first “primary” swarm of the season from a colony then we can be fairly confident that this swarm has our last year’s mated queen. This swarm is often […]
Spring or Fall Honey: Which is the best and for whom (bees/humans)?
Many would say that honey makes everything better and I would agree. Not only is it a natural sweetener but it also offers several health benefits, including antioxidant properties, which help fight oxidative stress…and it can soothe coughs and sore throats. Additionally, honey has anti-inflammatory effects and may aid in wound healing. These are just […]
Moving from Treatment to Treatment-Free
DISCLAIMER: The blog below is generally created from the research and instruction provided by the UK BIBBA association. This is not my research. All credit is given to BIBBA who are helping beekeepers better understand how we can improve our Varroa management practices. What is Varroa Resistance (VR)? There have been several terms used to […]
2025-2026 Layens Colony Survey Results
Wild Hives is excited to bring to our Layens community another year of winter colony survey results. The main reason this can happen is because of those who submitted data and we want to thank everyone who participated. Our hope is that our community will find this information helpful and interesting encouraging more Layens beekeepers […]
A Decade of Varroa Resistance Findings
DISCLAIMER: The blog below is generally created from the research listed in the “Referenced Materials” section. This is not my research. All credit is given to these studies and researchers who are helping beekeepers better understand how we can improve our management practices. Over the last three decades, numerous selection programs have been initiated to […]
Apiary Services
Natural and Sustainable beekeeping starts here. With our apiary services, we help you move from novice to natural. An estimate of the service time will be provide prior to meeting with the customer based on the service type selected. All service costs will include round trip drive time.
Layens Spring Inspections
Whether you’re getting into your Layens hive to check for “proof of Life” or something a little more, I’ve tried to outline below the basic steps and conditions I follow when getting into my hives early in the spring. Everything is location specific so assure you know your local conditions and expected weather prior to […]
Resistance Against Varroa and Tropilaelaps
DISCLAIMER: The blog below is generally created from the research listed in the “Referenced Materials” section. This is not my research. All credit is given to these studies and researchers who are helping beekeepers better understand how we can improve our management practices. For those beekeepers who are working to identify and split from colonies […]
Drone Genetics and the Continued Honeybee Evolution
DISCLAIMER: The blog below is generally created from the research listed in the “Referenced Materials” section. This is not my research. All credit is given to these studies and researchers who are helping beekeepers better understand how we can improve our management practices. A. Mellifera Origins There is evidence for a complex demographic history for A. […]