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/
- A winter oxalic acid treatment is beneficial for the season ahead and may help reduce miticide resistance issues … but timing it correctly is important.
- Pollination activity and how to influence it, and the production of even bigger, better queens … two examples of how science provides insights to the fascinating biology of bees.
- A miticide-rich brew this month; new restrictions on oxalic acid, how to discard Apivar strips and, peripherally related, mandatory registration of beekeepers. And some other stuff on hornets and social media.
- What determines whether swarmed colonies produce afterswarms (casts) and what weather determines whether bees forage well or not?
- Late season tasks in the apiary; mites, brood, contrary bees building brace comb and the characteristic signs of a hive in terminal decline.
- How will climate change impact bees and beekeeping? Flooded apiaries and poor queen mating might be the least of our problems. Don't think it won't happen … it already is.
- How is fake or adulterated honey identified? How do the fraudsters escape detection, and what novel methods might allow adulterated honey to be identified in the future?
- Local honey, local bees and local associations are all beneficial, but what do beekeepers mean by 'local'?
- Where is the writing about the highs and lows of beekeeping, the emotion, the satisfaction and the disappointments?
- Undertakers and hygienic bees are important contributors to social immunity and the health of your colonies. What do they do, and how do they do it?