Author Archives: Ron Miksha
Wintering at 50 Below in the Yukon
The Yukon is not usually considered ‘beekeeping country’, but there is some great beekeeping science going on up there right now. Etienne Tardif, an engineer with a fondness for spreadsheets and experimentation, has been keeping bees for 15 years in … Continue reading
Sylvia Plath, the Beekeeper’s Poet
Today, February 11, is the anniversary of the death of a great poet, Sylvia Plath. The daughter of a bee scientist, Sylvia spent her brief life writing about love, loss, disappointment, and nature. Don’t skip this short (20 minute) podcast episode. … Continue reading
Posted in Beekeeping, Culture, or lack thereof, Podcasts
Tagged beekeeping, Sylvia Plath
Leave a comment
Dead Bees in the Snow!
Lots of worrying going on this week, especially after the heavy snow that fell across much of North America. New beekeepers (and some of us old ones) worry when we see ‘lots’ of bees in the snow during winter. The … Continue reading
Arizona was Swarming – in January!
I don’t know a lot about Arizona, but my niece, Monica Miksa King, has been living there for a while and professionally rescues honey bees. So, when my curiosity peaked about bee conditions in the desert during January, I invited … Continue reading
Posted in Beekeeping, Honey Plants, Pesticides, Podcasts, Swarms
Tagged Arizona, beekeeping, bees, Pesticides, winter
Leave a comment
The most important beekeeper you never hear of
🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 You probably know that Karl von Frisch figured out how honey bees use their waggle-dance to communicate. He won the Nobel Prize for that and for other studies of bee behaviour. I think it was well-deserved … Continue reading
Posted in Bee Biology, Books, Culture, or lack thereof, History, People, Science
Tagged bee brains, Charles Henry Turner
1 Comment
What’s Blooming in January?
Metrosideros polymorpha, known in Hawaii as ʻŌhiʻa lehua It sometimes fills a heavy super with light honey in January. I’d really like to have this in my back yard because that would mean I would be living in Hawaii. photo … Continue reading
Posted in Beekeeping, Honey Plants, Podcasts
Tagged beekeeping, bees, Florida, Hawaii, winter
4 Comments
Podcast: Ten Best Bee Predictions for 2026
Well, no one can fully predict the future. But we can all try. I just released a new podcast that looks into the crystal ball of bees and beekeeping for 2026. Listen to this short (30 minute) selection of ten … Continue reading
Podcast: 2025 – Ten Bee News Stories
A lot happened in 2025, so I’m ending the About Bees, Culture & Curiosity podcast year (Season 6 Episode 12) with stories from bee news that you might enjoy. Listen to this short (30 minute) collection of some of the science … Continue reading
Posted in Beekeeping, Commercial Beekeeping, Culture, or lack thereof, Ecology, Pesticides, Podcasts, Science
Tagged varroa mites, beekeeping, bees, bee viruses, bee nutrition
1 Comment
Podcast: Is All Manuka Honey Fake?
In this podcast episode, I explore whether all mānuka honey is “fake,” tracing its unusual rise from an obscure (and unpopular) New Zealand honey to a globally coveted, heavily counterfeited product. The story begins with a look at the antibacterial … Continue reading
Posted in Beekeeping, Commercial Beekeeping, Culture, or lack thereof, Honey, Podcasts
Tagged adulteration, beekeeping, bees, manuka, New Zealand
4 Comments
Podcast: Philosopher-Beekeeper Richard Taylor
Each November, I like to remind myself that one of my favourite beekeepers has had another birthday anniversary. The beekeeper is Dr. Richard Taylor and he would have been 106 years old on November 5th. But the great philosopher-beekeeper died … Continue reading
Posted in Beekeeping, Commercial Beekeeping, Honey, People, Podcasts
Tagged beekeeping, bees, Chile, honey
1 Comment
Bad Beekeeping Blog 