Professor David Evans is a virologist studying the biology of single stranded positive sense RNA viruses, including poliovirus, hepatitis C virus and deformed wing virus of honeybees. He has a fascinating, practical beekeeping blog, https://www.theapiarist.org/
- The vertical split is a convenient swarm control method if you're short of equipment or space. It is easy to implement, requires minimal hive manipulations and – done properly – is very effective.
- Sub-lethal doses of neonicotinoids reduce foraging efficiency. Recent studies demonstrate that this is (partly) due to the loss of memory that associates colour with reward.
- Winter is a convenient time for apiary maintenance, but moving hives requires careful planning and suitable weather. And, while you're at it, give them some fondant if the hives are underweight.
- Beekeeping remains popular, but many underestimate the time and commitment involved. The rewards are considerable, but it's important to be realistic about the effort needed to achieve them.
- Who, or what, wrote the beekeeping articles and forums you follow online?
- How do honey bees detect and respond to the earth's magnetic field, and what happens when that detection is impaired? Pigeons, bees, clawed frogs and Helmholtz coils … it's all here.
- Achievable New Year's resolutions for beekeepers, the conservative nature of beekeeping and why things vary so much (which might explain why beekeepers often cannot agree)
- It's not just other pollinators that honey bees can transmit viruses to …
- A midsummer tale for the middle of winter.
- What was read and what was not? What does this tell us about the beekeeping year, and the interests and priorities of beekeepers? And why is there so much interest in 'mad honey'?