Category Archives: Ecology
Bird-brained Hunting Partner
Scientists may have proven that African Honeyguide birds “communicate” with their human partners. You have probably already heard about this, as it’s been reported this week in Zaire’s Times, the New York Times, The New Yorker, and fine papers everywhere. … Continue reading
Posted in Ecology, Genetics, Hives and Combs
Tagged Africanized honey bees, Brazil, Carniolan honey bees, Central Europe, evolution, honeyguide
2 Comments
Dropping into Sunshine Valley
My hometown – Calgary, Alberta, Canada – is having a much needed wet spell. In fact, there has been some ghastly local flooding which I’ll cover in a future blog. Lucky for me, I am a few hundred kilometres farther … Continue reading
Posted in Bee Yards, Beekeeping, Ecology, Friends, Save the Bees
Tagged Arlo's Honey, British Columbia, Kelowna, marketing honey, Okanagan
5 Comments
Malathion and Pesky Bugs
There’s a pesticide causing grief among some hobby beekeepers. No, not the neonicotinoids again (though they’re not without blame). This is an “older” poison. If you are a new beekeeper, you might not have heard of malathion. Malathion is deadly … Continue reading
Posted in Ecology, Pesticides, Save the Bees
Tagged bees, malathion, mosquitoes, Winnipeg
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African Beekeeping May “Save the Trees”
Rather than “Save the Bees”, it’s “Save the Trees” in central Africa. A story from Zimbabwe reminds us that beekeeping can be very, very good for ecology. Bees (and beekeepers) are saving Zimbabwe’s forests. The country of Zimbabwe, lest we … Continue reading
Posted in Beekeeping, Ecology, Save the Bees
Tagged Africa, bees, trees, Zimbabwe beekeeping
3 Comments
Sweet Sweet Clover (part 2)
Yesterday, I couldn’t say enough good things about sweet clover. The magic honey plant is just starting to bloom here in southern Alberta. In a few weeks, it will yield so much nectar that bees will plug supers with fine … Continue reading
Posted in Ecology, Honey Plants, Save the Bees
Tagged Grasslands National Park, invasive species, Lise Perrault, Saskatchewan, sweet clover, Val Marie
7 Comments
Sweet Sweet Clover (part 1)
Every June there is a wash of yellow along the edge of almost every highway and trail in North America. The yellow is from sweet clover that grows and blooms all across the continent. It’s wild and it has been … Continue reading
Almonds Doing Selfies
Almond pollination season is over. The billions of bees working in California have moved on. They are now mostly scattered across the American plains. It’s not easy to be a bee in the almond groves during February and March. Colony … Continue reading
Herbicides, Bacteria Killers, and Honey Bees
Recently, I learned that herbicides such as Roundup and 2-4-D kill bacteria. Not only do they do a fine job of killing broadleaf pollen producers, they also kill some microbes. This information didn’t come from the tin-hat doom-sayer who lives … Continue reading
Posted in Ecology, Pesticides, Save the Bees
Tagged glyphosate, herbicides, Monsanto, Roundup
6 Comments
Bumblebee Honey For Sale?
My brother was at a farmer’s market in North Carolina this weekend. A vendor was selling a thimble-full of honey for $10. Maybe slightly more than a thimble. The seller told my brother that you wouldn’t smother a pancake with … Continue reading
Posted in Apitherapy, Bee Biology, Ecology, Friends, Honey, Save the Bees
Tagged bumblebees, Central America, honey, honey pots
11 Comments
Rhodo Poison?
The rhododendron is a beautiful plant, but it’s rumoured to intentionally maim and kill honey bees. My mother had a favourite rhododendron bush in the yard by our house in the Appalachian foothills. Now that I am older and presumably … Continue reading
Posted in Bee Biology, Ecology, Honey Plants, Pollination
Tagged Appalachian, azalea, bees in warfare, John Lovell, poisoned bees, poisonous honey, rhododendrons
3 Comments
Bad Beekeeping Blog 