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American Bee Journal

The Classroom – May 2023

Q  Temperatures that kill wax moths and small hive beetles  I am trying to look up the minimum temperatures at which small hive beetles (SHBs) and wax moths can no longer survive so that I can minimize my expenditures on prevention. It is 7:30 a.m. now and it is 50°F (10°C) outside. I understand that it is 95°F (35°C) or…
UOVBA News Bot
May 22, 2023
American Bee Journal

Watching Colonies Grow in the Spring

In the previous article, we made a detailed examination of reversing hive bodies, which is a method to maintain colony growth in the spring. To review briefly, by early spring some clusters have ascended up under the cover, leaving empty combs below. Up under the hive cover, colony growth can stall. In a vertical hive design, the cluster more readily…
UOVBA News Bot
May 22, 2023
American Bee Journal

Some Thoughts about “Nectar and Pollen Flows”

These seasonal events are complicated simplicity First and foremost — the “nectar flow” If you are new to beekeeping, the primary nectar flow is the period, in your area, when major nectar-producing plants do their seasonal flowering thing. It’s why beekeepers constantly make plans for this intensive part of the year. Oh yes, it’s a glorious time to keep bees.…
UOVBA News Bot
May 22, 2023
American Bee Journal

Reversing Hive Bodies in the Spring: Shown with Large Observation Hives

Last year I installed bees in large multi-comb (wide and tall) observation hives with frames (when a usurpation swarm interrupted my work). This article continues that work, showing one of its benefits. These observation colonies went in my bee house, originally designed to house 30 single-comb top-bar observation hives. This way I can begin confronting the bee management for these…
UOVBA News Bot
April 24, 2023
American Bee Journal

The Classroom – April 2023

Q  Can laying workers produce female offspring? I received two questions on this topic. I list both questions before providing my answer. I am a southern California backyard beekeeper and have been enjoying the hobby for ten years or so. The articles “The Honey Bees in Africa” & “The Cape Bee, an Unusual Pest of European Bee Colonies” in the…
UOVBA News Bot
April 24, 2023
American Bee Journal

Hiving a Swarm of Bees

A hallmark of beekeeping Swarming, a complicated bee behavior A swarm of honey bees is a biological wonderment. For most people who don’t keep bees, a single encounter with a swarm becomes a lifelong memory. For the established beekeeper, hiving a swarm is an economical moment — free bees. For the public, it’s a spicy moment of danger and fear…
UOVBA News Bot
April 24, 2023