Category Archives: Genetics
Have you ever seen a queen like this?
A friend of mine, Jessie, who works the bees at Chinook Honey near Calgary, spotted this unusual queen. Jessie took the pictures on this page. As you can see, the queen has very little colour. What might cause this apparent … Continue reading
Dr Warwick Kerr, the “Man Who Created Killer Bees”, has died
It is with regret that we report that the humanitarian, geneticist, and scientist, Professor Warwick Kerr, passed away this morning, September 15, 2018. He was six days past his 96th birthday. Dr Kerr, a Brazilian bee scientist, had one of … Continue reading
Posted in Bee Biology, Culture, or lack thereof, Genetics, People, Queens, Science
Tagged Africanized honey bees, AHB, Brazil, Melipona, Warwick Kerr
31 Comments
95th Birthday for “The Man Who Made Killer Bees”
This week, we should celebrate Warwick Estevam Kerr, the man who made the killer bees. September 9th is his 95th birthday. Just like his bees, Kerr comes from hot, tropical Brazil. And just like his bees, Dr Kerr has been … Continue reading
Posted in Bee Biology, Beekeeping, Culture, or lack thereof, Genetics, People, Science, Uncategorized
Tagged Africanized honey bees, AHB, Brazil, Melipona, Native Bees, Warwick Kerr
8 Comments
Better Bees
Hungary, where I am today, has a long beekeeping history. Honey bees have been part of the ecology for thousands of years. Here, they are indigenous species whereas in the Americas (and Australia, New Zealand, and much of Asia), the … Continue reading
Posted in Bee Biology, Climate, Culture, or lack thereof, Ecology, Genetics, Science
Tagged bee races, black bees, Carniolan honey bees, Galtee Queen Breeding, Hungary, Ireland
2 Comments
155th Anniversary of a Botany Professor
Just a short post today, and though it’s about genetics and botany, bees (my usual blog subject) are mentioned only indirectly. It’s the 155th anniversary of the birth of Carrie Derick – one of the world’s first geneticists. Derick was … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, or lack thereof, Genetics, History, People
Tagged Canada, Carrie Derick, famous beekeepers, McGill
3 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
18 Comments
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
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
Big Brain, Small Brain, Bee Brain
A bee brain is bigger in the summer, when there are more things to learn, experience, and think about. It shrinks in the winter, which must be a blessing because bees spend weeks on end doing nothing – an active … Continue reading
Posted in Bee Biology, Genetics, Science
Tagged aggressive bees, bee brains, honey bee genetics, Monash University, neurology
6 Comments
Bad Beekeeping Blog 