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 tedium of jarring and labelling honey gives me time to think about other things. I ponder how to safely store and carry lots of heavy jars, or label them informatively for customers, or where the bees foraged to collect all that nectar in the first place.
- What is the opposite of “Does what it says on the tin”? Recent evidence suggests that artificial queen mandibular pheromone does not suppress queen cell formation.
- The beekeeping season might be over, but the beekeeping chores never stop. Some are best done in the cooler temperatures of autumn — rationalising frames, defeating wax moths and preparing soft set honey — before the onset of winter.
- Vadescana (marketed as Norroa™️) is a radically different new mite treatment. How does it work? How well does it work? Is it the silver bullet that 'solves' the problem of Varroa, or is it misnamed and too difficult to use effectively? Is it even necessary?
- Water is essential for colony survival, particularly when temperatures are high. How much water does a colony need, which bees collect it, and where do they collect it from? As the climate changes, how can you ensure your bees have access to enough water?
- Autumn is here. Time for some final pre-winter hive management, comparisons of baker's and beekeeper's fondant, the impact of 'local' on beekeeping, unusual sightings in the apiary and heather honey extraction. Next stop … spring.
- Repeated oxalic acid vaporisation is often recommended without discussion of the related importance of dose and application frequency. The method works … if you use enough OA, at appropriate intervals for sufficient time. Of course, that doesn't mean you are allowed to use it.
- Sugar shake or dusting is promoted as a good way to dislodge mites for counting or Varroa control. However, recent evidence suggests it reduces the survival of exposed bees, which raises some interesting ethical questions.
- Used properly, Apivar is an excellent miticide. How and why do you position and reposition the strips in the hive? How long do you treat for, and how do you detect and avoid resistance? Don't expect the answers to be in the instructions on the packet.
- Most beekeeping puzzles can be solved with some careful thought, good hive records, and a basic understanding of honey bee biology. If the solution makes lots of assumptions, it's probably wrong.