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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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How to Make a Bee House for Mason Bees
Beekeeping isn’t just a hobby for people who want to make a profit by selling honey; it’s also useful for flower pollination in a garden. Additionally, gardeners are always looking for new ways to decorate and improve their garden. You can use a bee house to increase the wellness of your garden. For this purpose, you need a different kind of bee and a different kind of bee house than what you would need for harvesting honey. Regular beehives are usually enclosed with one small entrance for bees to enter and exit through. Mason bee houses have a completely alternate setup. Mason bee houses are open-faced with lots of individual…
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Does Honey Contain Vitamins?
Honey is widely thought of as nutritional, and it can even be medicinal. It contains powerful antioxidants and enzymes. But does honey contain vitamins? How Honey is Made Honey is made by honeybees. They collect nectar from flowers, which is then stored in their honey stomachs. The honey stomach contains enzymes that break down the sugars in the nectar. When the bee returns to the hive, the nectar is regurgitated into the mouths of other bees. This is to further break down the nectar. Then, the nectar is placed into honeycomb. The bees will fan it with their wings to evaporate the water content. The nectar thickens and becomes honey. …
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How Do Bees Navigate: Understanding the Incredible Navigation System of Honey Bees
I’ve always found it pretty amazing how honeybees can fly miles away from their hive or nest, and still be able to find their way back home. Bees possess special navigation skills that allow them to travel long distances without getting lost. But how do bees navigate? They use the sun, landmarks, their sense of smell, and polarized light to find their way around. How Far Do Bees Travel for Food? One of the important jobs of the worker bee is to forage for food. To do this, they must often travel far away from their hives in search of pollen, nectar, and water. The distance bees travel for food…
