Tag Archives: Native Bees

A Bee ID Expert

Posted on August 4, 2018 by Ron Miksha

How well do you know bees? Not just honey bees, but all the other ones – masons, carpenters, diggers, sweat, cutters, bumblers, and the other many thousands of species. If you are like most of us, not so well. There’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Bee Biology, Outreach, Save the Bees, Science | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

95th Birthday for “The Man Who Made Killer Bees”

Posted on September 7, 2017 by Ron Miksha

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 , , , , , | 8 Comments

The Man Who Made Killer Bees

Posted on September 9, 2016 by Ron Miksha

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 , , , , , | 18 Comments

Should a “Bee City” Ban Honey Bees?

Posted on August 31, 2016 by Ron Miksha

In February, Toronto became Canada’s first certified Bee City. This week, a bedroom community just outside Calgary became Canada’s second. I heard the news last night on a CBC radio interview of Dr. Preston Pouteaux, a hobby beekeeper who apparently … Continue reading →

Posted in Ecology, Outreach, Save the Bees | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

Bees: The World’s Pollinators

Posted on October 3, 2015 by Ron Miksha

There are thousands of species of bees in the world. Our favourite, the honey bee, is just one of the estimated 25,000.  It’s not even the cutest, friendliest, or most interesting. Those qualities go to some fascinating creatures you will … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Pollination | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Wild bees again

Posted on June 24, 2014 by Ron Miksha

A few days ago, I wrote a snarky blog entry about one researcher’s efforts to alert us to a hazard of urban beekeeping. It is Dr Cartar’s contention that keeping bees in an urban environment robs wild native bees of … Continue reading →

Posted in Bee Biology, Beekeeping, Ecology, Science | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Going native

Posted on June 12, 2014 by Ron Miksha

A Calgary University professor has this to say about urban beekeepers: “It is not as rosy as they think. Every jewel* of honey that they get on their plate or in their jars is a jewel that has been robbed … Continue reading →

Posted in Bee Biology, Beekeeping, Culture, or lack thereof, Ecology | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments