Category Archives: Tools and Gadgets

Have you lithium-chlorided your bees yet?

Posted on January 17, 2018 by Ron Miksha

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 , | 24 Comments

Creamed Honey

Posted on October 17, 2017 by Ron Miksha

I’ve written about ‘creamed’ honey before, but I think it’s time to mention it again. I don’t know what you call smooth honey – some folks call it creamed (though no dairy products are involved), spun (though no spinning is … Continue reading →

Posted in Friends, History, Honey, Tools and Gadgets | Tagged , , , , | 16 Comments

Why are Hives Damp in the Winter?

Posted on October 7, 2017 by Ron Miksha

Last time, I wrote about my over-wintering misadventures with wet hives. In many parts of the world (I’m looking at you, England.), the biggest winterkill comes from moisture, not disease or starvation. During the winter, water may collect under the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bee Biology, Beekeeping, Science, Tools and Gadgets | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

Moving the Bees

Posted on June 30, 2017 by Ron Miksha

Yesterday, I wrote about nuking the bees. Today, it’s moving the bees. My nuc started out on my daughter’s farm, 130 kilometres east of my home in Calgary. That’s over an hour’s drive, out on the prairie, away from the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bee Biology, Beekeeping, Commercial Beekeeping, Hives and Combs, Tools and Gadgets | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Sticking the Queen In

Posted on May 25, 2017 by Ron Miksha

Over the past few days, I’ve written a little about identifying poor queens by examining brood patterns. Then we discussed  finding and pinching her failing heinousnesses.  The next step in your requeening saga is inserting the caged queen. Here in … Continue reading →

Posted in Beekeeping, History, Queens, Tools and Gadgets | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Grade Six Kids’ Mite Detector Invention

Posted on May 16, 2017 by Ron Miksha

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 , | 4 Comments

Field School at the Bees

Posted on May 14, 2017 by Ron Miksha

Last weekend, the Calgary bee club’s introductory beekeeping course wrapped up with our field school section. After 2 full days (15 hours!) of instruction, participants had a chance to observe, study, touch, and ask questions about the innards of live … Continue reading →

Posted in Friends, Outreach, Tools and Gadgets | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Have These Kids Found a Way to Kill Varroa?

Posted on April 25, 2017 by Ron Miksha

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 , , | 14 Comments

Bright Shiny Extractors

Posted on September 19, 2016 by Ron Miksha

I’m continuing with the series of questions I overheard at last week’s bee meeting. Today, it’s the bright shiny extractor. Here are those questions: My honey isn’t capped. What should I do with it? (I heard that one from three … Continue reading →

Posted in Beekeeping, Tools and Gadgets | Tagged , | 7 Comments

What Do You Do with Open Honey?

Posted on September 16, 2016 by Ron Miksha

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 , , , | 4 Comments