Category Archives: Diseases and Pests
Crazy Russian Hacker lost all his bees!
My son is a fan of a YouTube sensation who calls himself the “Crazy Russian Hacker.” Taras Kulakov came to America from the Ukraine as a child refugee. He’s 30 now. A few years ago, he began making fun videos … Continue reading
Have you lithium-chlorided your bees yet?
A friend (Thanks, Thomas!) sent a note this morning about a new mite treatment. It was developed at the University of Hohenheim, Apicultural State Institute, Stuttgart, Germany. Findings were published in Nature. So, I am guessing that the science – … Continue reading
Posted in Diseases and Pests, Save the Bees, Tools and Gadgets
Tagged lithium chloride, varroa mites
24 Comments
2017: The Year in Bee Review
As 2017 draws to a close, let’s look back at the year’s best beekeeping stories. With lower honey prices in 2017, some beekeepers left the business and colony counts fell a little. Back in 2016, I reported that honey bees … Continue reading
Posted in Apitherapy, Bee Biology, Beekeeping, Culture, or lack thereof, Diseases and Pests, Friends, History, Hive Products, Honey, Honey Plants, Killer Bees, Movies, Outreach, People, Pesticides, Pollination, Queens, Save the Bees, Science
Tagged blogging
6 Comments
Wax Worms Biggly in the News
The folks who write my favourite business magazine, Economist, have a freebie on their website. They are giving away a 50-page book, Ten Things We Learned in 2017. You’ll like the second story in their feature: “How plastic-eating caterpillars could … Continue reading
Posted in Bee Biology, Diseases and Pests, Ecology, Science, Strange, Odd Stuff
Tagged Economist, environment, wax worms
3 Comments
YIKES! Small Hive Beetle in Alberta
Two days ago, our apiary inspector announced the unfortunate discovery of the ugly Small Hive Beetle (SHB), species Aethina tumida, in the northern part of our province. I think that this is the first time SHB has been found in … Continue reading
Posted in Beekeeping, Diseases and Pests
Tagged Alberta, beekeeping, New Brunswick, Ontario, small hive beetles
7 Comments
Keeping the Cougars out of your Bee Yard
Ever been chased by a mountain lion? How about a cougar, panther, or puma? Me neither, but I’ve probably passed within metres of all four. (I’m told that they’re all the same species – Puma concolor.) A new study from … Continue reading
Posted in Bee Yards, Beekeeping, Diseases and Pests, Strange, Odd Stuff
Tagged bears, grizzly bears, puma
5 Comments
Grade Six Kids’ Mite Detector Invention
What’s with kids who develop tools to attack mites and save bees? A few weeks ago, I wrote about a group of Spanish youngsters on their way to Australia to compete in an international meet with their invention that may … Continue reading
Posted in Diseases and Pests, Save the Bees, Tools and Gadgets
Tagged First Lego Competition, varroa mites
4 Comments
Fishing Bait That Eats Plastic
Hundreds of diseases and pests attack honey bees. One of the oldest known hive invaders is the wax moth. Aristotle had trouble keeping them out of his hives so maybe you do, too. Wax moths come in two flavours – … Continue reading
Posted in Bee Biology, Beekeeping, Diseases and Pests, Science, Strange, Odd Stuff
Tagged beeswax, environment, plastics, wax moths
9 Comments
Have These Kids Found a Way to Kill Varroa?
I am a skeptic when it comes to ‘miracle’ cures to fight varroa. I think that the various expensive heat/sauna systems are a waste of time and money. A lot of natural treatments (icing/powdered sugar; essential oils; screened bottoms) are … Continue reading
Posted in Beekeeping, Diseases and Pests, Save the Bees, Science, Tools and Gadgets
Tagged crowd-funding, First Lego Competition, varroa mites
14 Comments
Humungus Bee Meeting
I thought that there can’t possibly be so many people curious about beekeeping. But there are. It’s great to see lots of folks interested in bees, ecology, the environment, and the sport of beekeeping. But the numbers amaze me. New … Continue reading
Posted in Diseases and Pests, Friends, Outreach
Tagged American Foulbrood, bee medications, Calgary Bee Club, Medhat Nasr, New Zealand, varroa mites
7 Comments
Bad Beekeeping Blog 