Honey Bees: Pain, Stress, Aggression and Disease Resistance

DISCLAIMER: The blog below is generally created from the research listed in the “Referenced Material” 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. Scientific consensus suggests that while bees lack the neurological structures for subjective pain as […]

The Varroa Treatment Adherence Issue

DISCLAIMER: The blog below is generally created from the research listed in the “Referenced Material” 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. Treatments, treatments, treatments Based on guidance about Varroa, a beekeeper might begin […]

Hive Insulation Research Sources

Hive insulation, where to put it, how it works, and how long to keep it on the hive have been growing questions recently and likely being asked now more than ever for multiple reasons: Annual fall and winter losses are climbing especially in the United States, significantly impacting commercial beekeepers and pollination work. Treatment companies […]

Combination Effects of Varroa Treatments and Pesticides on Honey Bees

DISCLAIMER: The blog below is generally created from the research listed in the “Referenced Material” 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. In our often over medicated world, we often find ourselves having discussions […]

Nest Temperature Control

DISCLAIMER: The blog below is generally created from the research listed in the “Referenced Material” 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. Based on the size of a honey bee colony, the homeostasis (steady […]

Microplastics in Our Hives and Honey Bees

DISCLAIMER: The blog below is generally created from the research listed in the “Referenced Material” 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. Microplastics (MPs) are tiny plastic particles (or fibers) that have become widespread […]

The Nest of the Honey Bee by Dr Seeley and Dr Morse 1976

Summary “The natural honey bee nest was studied in detail to better understand the honey bee’s natural living conditions. To describe the nest site we made external observations on 39 nests in hollow trees. We collected and dissected 21 of these tree nests to describe the nest architecture. No one tree genus strongly predominates among […]

Winter Prep

The weather is changing, and you feel that winter is just around the corner so what do you do with your Layens hives?  Below I will share what I do for my hives, and hopefully it may give you some ideas for yours.  I will also assume you are using an insulated Layens hive but […]

What do Honey Bees want?

It’s interesting to consider that most beekeeper management practices come, as might be expected, from the perspective of the beekeeper.  Many questions being asked are answered based on what the beekeeper knows, wants or thinks.  I guess that is to be expected as well.  I mean, you can’t actually have a discussion with bees, and […]

Pollen: Why do bees and humans want it?

DISCLAIMER: The blog below is generally created from the research listed in the “Referenced Material” 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. Pollen: What is it? We see pollen coming into the hive packed […]