Category Archives: Diseases and Pests

Beekeeper Royally Stung

Posted on February 3, 2017 by Ron Miksha

A rather sad story today. Sad on several levels. A couple of months ago, we learned that “Prince Charles’ beekeeper” was charged with using a prohibited chemical in his hives. The chemical is a medication used throughout North America and … Continue reading →

Posted in Beekeeping, Diseases and Pests, Honey, Save the Bees | Tagged , , , , | 14 Comments

Bee Virus with a Cute Name

Posted on December 4, 2016 by Ron Miksha

It will never end. But at least this one has a cute name: The Moku virus. Science Daily had a piece, A New Threat to Bees Worldwide, which gives us yet another bee story that may go viral. The Moku … Continue reading →

Posted in Diseases and Pests, Ecology | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Brood in Front of the Hive?!?

Posted on September 24, 2016 by Ron Miksha

I’m continuing with the series of questions which I overheard at a bee meeting a few days ago. Today, it’s dead brood. Here are those questions: My honey isn’t capped. What should I do with it? (I heard that one … Continue reading →

Posted in Bee Biology, Bee Yards, Beekeeping, Diseases and Pests, Pesticides, Strange, Odd Stuff | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments

Remembering: Charles Valentine Riley

Posted on September 18, 2016 by Ron Miksha

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 , , , , | 2 Comments

How Can I Stop Wasp Attacks?

Posted on September 17, 2016 by Ron Miksha

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 →

Posted in Beekeeping, Diseases and Pests, Stings | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Good News: No Killer Bees at the Olympics

Posted on August 21, 2016 by Ron Miksha

Whatever happened to the Killer Bees? Killer Bees – more accurately, hybrids of European and African honey bees – were supposed to destroy the world, or at least kill a lot of people trying. They started out in Brazil, not … Continue reading →

Posted in Beekeeping, Culture, or lack thereof, Diseases and Pests, History, Humour, Killer Bees, Movies, Stings, Swarms | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Zombees in Canada

Posted on August 16, 2016 by Ron Miksha

I wish I had good news. Canada’s first confirmed case of zombees has appeared – on Vancouver Island, out in the Pacific. Hundreds of kilometres from my home in Calgary.  Zombie zombees, like the human kind, are undeads who are … Continue reading →

Posted in Bee Biology, Diseases and Pests, Ecology, Strange, Odd Stuff | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Bee Vandals

Posted on August 10, 2016 by Ron Miksha

I’ll never understand vandalism. Theft I understand. I don’t like it, I don’t condone it, I’ve been victimized by it. But I can understand how it might sometimes happen. Vandalism, however, is strange. And stupid. Vandalism is nothing new. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Bee Yards, Beekeeping, Commercial Beekeeping, Diseases and Pests | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Canada’s Hive Beetles

Posted on March 11, 2016 by Ron Miksha

A couple of nights ago, Alberta’s chief apiculturist spoke at our local (Calgary) bee club meeting. Close to 150 people turned out to hear Dr Medhat Nasr give us a recap on the status of Alberta beekeeping and the status … Continue reading →

Posted in Beekeeping, Diseases and Pests | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Bees, Beer, and Dead Mites

Posted on December 3, 2015 by Ron Miksha

Can beer save the bees? No, but with enough beer, bees may not care that mites are crawling all over them.  There have been headlines over the past month suggesting that beer will save the honey bees, but that’s not … Continue reading →

Posted in Diseases and Pests, Save the Bees | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments