-
When to Harvest Honey From Beehives
It’s the most exciting part of beekeeping – the honey harvest. After all those months of caring for your bee colony you finally get to reap the rewards of your hard work. If you are new to beekeeping you may not know much about harvesting honey, but that’s okay. This article will go over how and when to harvest honey from beehives. How Bees Make Honey First, let’s have a quick review of how bees make honey. First of all, not all bees make honey. Some bees collect and store pollen. The honey bee however, collects pollen and nectar to create honey. They store the honey to be eaten during…
-
How to Use a Robber Bees Screen
It’s something all beekeepers have to deal with at one time or another – robber bees. Left unattended, robbing can be a big problem for colonies. Using a robber bees screen is a great way to prevent robbing from starting in the first place. What Are Robber Bees? Robber bees are bees that enter a different colony with the intention to steal their honey. These are forager bees that simply want to collect food to bring back to their own colony. Since robbing isn’t an easy task, robbers will target a weaker colony to steal from. To enter the hive she must first fight the guard bees at the entrance. …
-
Do Ants Harm Beehives?
“There are ants in my beehive!” is a common complaint among beekeepers. It’s not surprising because ants are often attracted to sugary foods. So finding a beehive full of sweet honey must be like hitting the jackpot for them. But for beekeepers, while ants are a nuisance, at what point do you step in and get rid of the ants? Do ants harm beehives? Why Ants Like Beehives Like most creatures that try to invade a beehive, ants are attracted to the smell of honey. Just like ant traps use a sweet smelling bait to lure ants, honey is the reason ants will enter a hive. Furthermore, if you are…
-
Maintaining Strong Bee Colonies: A Step-by-Step Beehive Inspection Checklist
Beehive inspections are an important part of beekeeping. It is the only way to determine the colony’s health and wellbeing. Beehive inspections can be intimidating to new beekeepers because it is so hands on, but they quickly get the hang of it and find it enjoyable. This post will talk about the importance of hive inspections, as well as discuss how and when to do hive inspections. Beehive inspection lists are very useful to keep track of your hives. For your convenience, there is a beehive inspection list pdf included at the end of this post. Why Do Beehive Inspections? Beehive inspections tell the beekeeper what is going on inside…
-
Foundation vs Foundationless Beekeeping
One of the big debates in beekeeping is whether or not to use foundation. Each method of beekeeping has it’s advantages and disadvantages, so it’s best to do your research before deciding on what is right for you. Read on for all the details on foundation vs foundationless beekeeping. What is Foundation? Foundation is a sheet made of plastic or wax that is placed in the middle of the frame. Foundation forms the base of one honeycomb, therefore giving the bees a guide on which to build the rest of their comb. It looks like a flat sheet with a hexagonal pattern molded into it. Plastic Foundation Plastic foundation is…
-
How to Use a Honey Extractor
It’s what beekeepers look forward to all year – harvesting honey. If you have top bar hives, you will use the crush and strain method. But if you have Langstroth hives, you probably want to use a honey extractor. Honey extractors spin the frames and comb, using centrifugal force to remove the honey from the comb. The honey then collects at the bottom of the extractor’s drum. The drum has a tap that drains the honey into a container of your choice. Using a honey extractor is a huge time saver, as several frames can be spun at once. Another benefit of using a honey extractor is that the wax…
-
What Causes Nosema in Bees and What Treatment is Available?
Nosema is a common disease that affects honeybees. It is important for beekeepers to know the signs and symptoms of nosema so they can treat and prevent it. Read on to learn what causes nosema in bees as well as different methods of treatment. What is Nosema? Nosema is a fungal infection that affects honeybees. Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae are the two species that can affect bees. Once infected, the fungi invades the honeybee’s gut and damages the intestinal lining. As a result, bees with nosema experience malnutrition, increased likelihood of contracting other diseases, and ultimately, a shortened lifespan. Symptoms of Nosema What Causes Nosema in Bees? Nosema infection…
-
A Review on Busy Bees ‘n’ More Beehives
When buying a beehive you want a quality product, made of durable materials that will last a long time. The Amish are known for their woodworking, so it makes sense that they’d excel at constructing beehives. About Busy Bees ‘n’ More Located in Ohio, Busy Bees ‘n’ More are manufacturers of Langstroth beehives. What sets them apart from other beehive manufacturers is that these hives are made by Amish woodworkers. The Amish are known for their quality craftsmanship and high quality woodwork. All Busy Bees ‘n’ More hives are made in the USA using responsibly sourced wood. They sell both 8 and 10 frame hives, as well as a starter…
-
How Many Honey Bees in a Hive?
A colony is the community of bees that live in a hive. But just how many honey bees are in a hive? This is a question that isn’t so easy to answer in exact figures. There are statistically accurate estimates that vary with the size of the hive. So, without talking about specifics, let’s look at how many honey bees typically live in a hive. A single honey bee colony could consist of anywhere from 10,000 to well over 70,000 bees. The hive often functions as a single organism with the majority of members being female worker bees who are all often offspring of the same queen bee. Determining the…
-
Beekeeping Attire for Women: The Best Bee Suits
Women are making an impact on agriculture. Today, women account for 36% of farmers. Over the past 5 years the number of female farmers has been steadily rising. In the world of apiculture, local beekeeping clubs comprise of nearly 50% women, with many in leadership roles. Whether it be commercial or hobby beekeeping, many women are successful beekeepers. So it’s no surprise that some companies have started to develop bee suits for women. Of course, beekeeping is no fashion show, but it is nice to have a bee suit that is made to fit the smaller frame of a woman. What to Look For in Bee Suits for Women If…
