BeeKeepClub’s Beekeeping Blog

The honeybee might be a target of a number of pests but this number is relatively low and manageable. Honeybees in North America and other parts of the U.S. play an important role, economically and ecologically. It is almost impossible for nature to thrive in the absence of bees and other pollinators. Unfortunately, honeybee numbers have been declining over the years for a number of reasons. Pests and diseases are particularly a major threat to bees and hence the need for beekeepers to adopt effective, safe, economical, and sustainable ways of dealing with them. This is what is referred to as IPM, or integrated pest management. The concept and application of integrated pest management are widely accepted in beekeeping operations since it provides a long-term solution for managing pests.

Drone Congregation Areas are important for the survival and sustainability of honeybee colonies. As the name suggests, it is an area where drone bees congregate in a bid to mate with a virgin queen bee. Bees remain the only known flying insects that engage in this behavior. In this article, we'll discuss all you need to know about drone congregation areas.

Scientists have put in the work when it comes to efforts to counter the many threats that threaten honeybee colonies. The unleashing of Varroa Sensitive Hygiene (VSH) stock of bees was a game changer in beekeeping. Varroa Sensitive Hygiene is a trait that describes the ability of bees to recognize, open, and eliminate capped broods that contain reproducing Varroa mites. This special behavior is not common with all honeybees but can be seen in colonies that demonstrate strong resistance to Varroa infestations. This has made a tremendous difference in apiaries and made the work of beekeepers much easier. This minimizes the need to use potentially harmful chemicals to treat the deadly Varroa mites.

Genetic diversity and avoiding inbreeding is important in honeybees as in other organisms too. This article focuses on informing you about how honeybees avoid inbreeding and ensure genetic diversity. It aims to equip you with knowledge for your better appreciation of honeybees and also to make you a better beekeeper. By understanding the importance of some honeybee activities, you will be able to facilitate them better so that they take place in optimum conditions for best outcomes. Genetic diversity has many advantages in all species due to ensuring suppression of most of the bad genes. Good genetic diversity in honeybee colonies gives the members of the colony hybrid vigor.

Wild bees are important pollinators and some of the most vital insects that form the cornerstone of our ecosystem. In recent times, there has been increased conservation effort across the globe benefiting honeybees but without much attention paid to wild bees which are just as important. If you have been considering raising wild bees, for whatever purpose then thumbs up and welcome aboard. We are here to discuss all you ever need to know about keeping wild bees. This knowledge will allow you to become a part of a community that strives to make the world a better place by conserving nature and all its rich resources, encompassing all kinds of creatures with wild bees included. Wild bees are easy to raise and as you will come to know, require the least maintenance and support from the beekeeper. These solitary bees do not require a support system such as a colony in order to survive and thrive, but rather a female will raise her young on her own. They are exceptional pollinators that surpass the honeybees when it comes to pollination efficiency. Ultimately, if you consider the bottom line, it will make more sense to raise wild bees for pollination services rather than honeybees for the same purpose. A disclaimer though, each of these bees comes with its benefits and neither is superior to the other in terms of their importance to the natural environment.

Honeybees have lived and thrived in their feral environment long before man thought of domesticating them. The honeybee colony is self-sustaining and can survive without the beekeeper’s help. Bees instinctively use some defense mechanisms to safeguard the colony’s health. These include the elimination of sickened larvae, bees, or pupae. All these and other mechanisms are a part of what is used by bees to secure the honeybee colony from pests, parasites, and diseases. Honeybee colonies rely heavily on a group effort to promote productivity and survival. The colony’s defense against pathogens and parasites is not solely pegged on individual effort but rather on the entire colony. In this article, we'll discuss honeybees' natural defenses against pests and parasites.

Type the word honeybees into your Google search, press enter and you find literally thousands of content. The honeybee is a small insect that has amazed many. It has even elicited a lot of debate and concern, given their declining numbers. Researchers have never rested when it comes to unraveling the world of honeybees. In this article, we'll discuss some amazing, fun, and important facts about honey bees.

The practice of raising honeybees did not begin the other day. Caring for and managing bees is a practice that's been going about for centuries. Honeybees are raised for not only the honey they make but also for other important services such as pollination services. Beekeeping has fascinated many since there is so much to learn about it. In this article, we'll discuss several beekeeping facts that you may or may not have known.

Varroa mites are parasitic worms that are also known by their scientific name Varroa destructor. The parasite is present in all honeybee colonies across the U.S. and beyond. It is the only parasitic worm known for targeting both the young and adult host. Additionally, Varroa mites are a vector to several viruses, posing a serious risk to honeybee colonies. Statistics show that colonies that do not properly manage the Varroa mite pandemic stand a 90 to 95% chance of collapsing. Therefore, proper management of the mite can help save millions of bees from this destructive parasite.