Author Archives: Ron Miksha
Remembering: Charles Valentine Riley
Charles Valentine Riley (1843-1895) September 18 is the birthdate of British-American entomologist Charles Valentine Riley. Riley pioneered the scientific study of insect pests and their impact on agriculture. He founded the US Department of Agriculture’s Division of Entomology and was … Continue reading
Posted in Diseases and Pests, Ecology, History, People
Tagged Charles Darwin, Charles Riley, economical entomology, insect pests, Smithsonian
2 Comments
How Can I Stop Wasp Attacks?
A few days ago, I wrote about the way new beekeepers are generally sure about the right way to keep bees while oldtimers are reticent when it comes to answering questions. Sometimes there are a dozen ways to solve a … Continue reading
Noxious Milkweed?
The Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Gazette had a story yesterday about a fellow in Monticello who ran afoul of the law for something he’s growing in his back yard. His crime? Cultivating (Milk)weed. Bee and butterfly enthusiasts know milkweed. So do … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, or lack thereof, Ecology, Honey Plants, Humour, Save the Bees
Tagged Iowa, milkweed, monarch butterfly
2 Comments
What Do You Do with Open Honey?
Yesterday, I droned on and on about how beekeepers who are smart and mature don’t know anything. It’s the new beefolks who have all the answers. I’m not quite at the point where I know nothing, so I’m going to … Continue reading
Posted in Beekeeping, Honey, Tools and Gadgets
Tagged Alberta, Canada, moisture in honey, refractometer
4 Comments
It Depends
Last night we had another meeting of our local bee club, the Calgary and District Beekeepers. These are becoming legendary events with over 150 bee people, sipping coffee and doing bee-talk. Although it’s great fun mixing with so many nice … Continue reading
Posted in Beekeeping, Culture, or lack thereof, Friends, Outreach
Tagged Calgary Bee Club
10 Comments
The Man Who Made Killer Bees
Today (September 9) is the 94th birthday of Warwick Estevam Kerr, the man who made the Killer Bees. Just like his bees, Kerr comes from hot, tropical Brazil. And just like his bees, Dr Kerr has been much maligned and … Continue reading
Posted in Bee Biology, Beekeeping, Culture, or lack thereof, Genetics, People, Science
Tagged Africanized honey bees, AHB, Brazil, Melipona, Native Bees, Warwick Kerr
24 Comments
Bumble Bees and Free Will
Much is made of a human’s ability to make free choices. It’s an illusion, of course, but if people should be awarded this mysterious power, then why not bees? To bolster this notion of bees and free will, we’ll look … Continue reading
Posted in Bee Biology, Ecology, Science
Tagged bee foraging, bee scouts, Bombus terrestris, bumblebees, England
6 Comments
Bearspaw Honey Harvest
A friend sent these pictures of some of his honey harvest. It was part of his second pull, taken September 4th. He says there’s more to gather and he’ll collect it in a couple of weeks. Looks like great quality! … Continue reading
Does the FDA Think Honey has ‘Added Sugar’?
I just got off the phone. I was chatting with a buddy who lives in the USA. (I am in western Canada.) He tells me that the FDA is completely revising US label laws. In the near future, Calories will … Continue reading
Posted in Beekeeping, Culture, or lack thereof, Honey
Tagged adulteration, FDA, labeling, marketing honey, sugar
16 Comments
Climb Every Mountain; Raise Every Dollar
It seems that Saving the Bees has turned into quite a nice little cottage industry. Although honey bees are more numerous today than any time in history, some people seem intent on telling other people that the honey bees are … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, or lack thereof, Outreach, Save the Bees
Tagged CBC, CCD, colony collapse disorder, mountains, school outreach
9 Comments
Bad Beekeeping Blog 