https://www.beekept.org/home daily 1.0 2025-10-19 https://www.beekept.org/our-story daily 0.75 2024-02-20 https://www.beekept.org/shop daily 0.75 2022-04-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/1649985340080-YHPSO924UXJD19YVUL0J/IMG_0768.jpg Shop https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/1649989167762-E1JVD34VKUQOWP544XIQ/IMG_0803.jpg Shop https://www.beekept.org/removals daily 0.75 2024-09-26 https://www.beekept.org/bees daily 0.75 2024-02-20 https://www.beekept.org/honey daily 0.75 2024-09-26 https://www.beekept.org/alcohol-mite-counts daily 0.75 2022-02-17 https://www.beekept.org/pollinator-initiative-signup daily 0.75 2021-06-15 https://www.beekept.org/ipm daily 0.75 2021-07-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/1626315711283-N6M6AVNT27ALBP04C2NU/Fancy+Graph.jpg IPM - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/1626309415380-YC69JT6QXLQ8JF7UY5IT/pseudoscorpion.jpg IPM - Few and Far Between Biological controls include predators and parasites that prey upon honey bee pests. Unfortunately, there are few of these to choose from, commercially. Significant progress has been made in the research of nematodes, fungi, bacteria, and protozoa that may be of benefit in the future. Preliminary findings suggest that rough hive interiors encourage the occupancy of benevolent hive mates, such as pseudoscorpions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/1626315767132-4Q9G13ML8MB97NO1NUIS/141a9-ipm-pyramid-copy.png IPM Integrated Pest Management (IPM), in the context of beekeeping, is usually centered around battling the destructive Varroa mite. However, it is relevant to a number of honey bee pests. The goal of IPM is to integrate an approach beyond chemical intervention with pesticides, by incorporating a number of preventative methods. IPM is often visually represented with a pyramid, the foundations of which are more laborious but less toxic for the bees and the beekeeper. A lot of these tactics mimic what isolated, wild honey bee colonies do in nature. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/1626314141007-WWI77LVOPBBZJVTQUOQX/IMG_0016.JPG IPM - From the Bottom Up Tobias Keene, D.D.S. Hailing from Richmond, Virginia, Dr. Tobias Keene brings a bit of unabashed Southern hospitality to all his patients. He moved to Washington, D.C. over thirty years ago as a freshman at Ivy College. Right after graduation, he attended World University’s School of Dentistry. Before opening Keene Dental in 1994, he worked for free clinics and some of the finest practices in the District. He is part of the 123 Dental Association and stays up-to-date on the latest dental discoveries. When not striving to keep his patients happy and healthy, he’s enjoys hiking with his family in Rock Creek Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/1626313271763-4C544C9FWU5P7LPM14L8/Varroa-Mite-Treatement-Chart-for-Blog.jpg IPM - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/1626311402776-FVZ1NJY4LOSRMF6USQ40/beetletowel.jpg IPM - Let’s Get Physical Physical and mechanical tactics include: Screened bottom boards. Drone brood removal. Barriers and traps. Powdered sugar. https://www.beekept.org/all-about-swarms daily 0.75 2022-03-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/3604c85a-dd32-4cb5-858b-0246d89c67a5/Honey%2Bbee%2Bqueen%2Bcage%2Bon%2Bframe.jpg All About Swarms - Dequeening Place the queen in a holding cage, and leave the colony queenless for 7 to 10 days. During this time, but not longer, requeen the colony using the old queen after destroying all queen cells present. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/dde2cb4b-dda2-4208-a53f-8611171f0a03/2021.11++%2815%29.jpg All About Swarms Variations of this technique include the destruction of the original queen and introduction of a new queen, or the addition of a capped queen cell. Alternately, all queen cells may be cut out except one, and the existing queen may be used to start a new colony. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/38c965e6-807b-46ac-8dd1-e987927b8414/2022.02.22++%283%29.jpg All About Swarms - Splitting the Brood Frames of brood removed from colonies requiring swarm control may be added to weaker colonies to equalize colony strength, if disease is not present. Kill all developing queen cells, first. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/98f6d3fa-da5e-496f-bc6b-222861eb31c0/2022.02.22++%288%29.jpg All About Swarms Alternately, all queen cells may be cut out except one. Move the intact queen cell and several frames to a nucleus colony. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/6a98bea7-b265-4ba6-8bfb-c268b9a5ee1b/2022.01.03++%288%29.jpg All About Swarms - Hive Rearrangement Remove all but one sealed brood frame from the box containing the queen. Add a queen excluder, and one or two honey supers with drawn comb above it. The remainder of the brood frames are placed on top of the same colony in another hive body. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/1c826d98-5443-4e7e-8ad8-5277b0cd3f86/IMG_20200906_164218271_HDR-576x768.jpg All About Swarms In 7 to 10 days, all queen cells should be removed from frames in the top chamber. Alternately, a queen may be hatched above and a second entrance provided. This results in a dual queen colony. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/1631823063601-UQ3F1HW0MKGQF9D4KWRN/05.27%2B%25282%2529.jpg All About Swarms https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/1631823545134-DVHKCVP17TNJA4IK2FAT/IMG_0023.jpg All About Swarms https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/1631823687711-HUPF37LVBCIPGTJG15EV/IMG_0071.jpg All About Swarms https://www.beekept.org/fungal-pathogens daily 0.75 2021-11-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/286a9949-0e89-4951-971a-54c3467cf71d/4-90.png Fungal Pathogens - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/ccb47988-b2d0-4a8d-929b-1823daf74e81/0a8770b0fb56b419da1712e76c1c534c5d7bc7ed.jpg Fungal Pathogens - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.beekept.org/varroa daily 0.75 2023-11-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/87d27883-71e4-4575-8832-86abbaa721b1/af6db70325a33cfaa0a143d7799e7123.jpg An Overview of Varroa Management - How Varroa Affects the Colony Varroa mites feed on an important organ in developing brood called the fat body. This alters the expression of genes related to stress response, immunity, nervous system function, metabolism, and behavioral maturation. Varroa mites host a litany of diseases that they pass onto the bees. One of the most visually obvious is Deformed Wing Virus (DWV). In general, the presence of any malformed bees at any time should ring alarm bells to initiate varroa control. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/b6fccc0d-f036-4a37-86db-00c343d848ed/2021.02+8.jpg An Overview of Varroa Management - How and Why to Sample Mites Varroa treatments are pesticides (even the natural ones). By taking a needs-based approach, a beekeeper reduces unnecessary exposure to their bees, and reduces the accumulation of harmful residues in wax and honey. Varroa mites can be sampled in three ways: measuring natural mite fall onto a sticky board, performing an alcohol wash, or counting reproducing mites in pupa cells. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/5058b69c-1bef-461f-9332-363d683c6978/IMG_1928-2.jpg An Overview of Varroa Management - Queen Confinement and Comb Trapping To obtain a brood-free colony, a queen may be caged until all brood has emerged (25 days) and treatment may then be applied in the nine days before new brood is capped again. Alternately, a queen may be restricted to a single frame via laying cage for eight days. Then, the queen is given a fresh frame to fill and the open brood frame is placed beside it to catch mites. This is repeated three times. Each time a frame with eggs/larvae is replaced, the oldest frame is removed and frozen. In the end, the colony is totally brood free, and most of the mites are caught in the capped frames. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/c4ea53aa-dd89-451d-a416-0a1609b55573/248657.image4.jpg An Overview of Varroa Management - Timing is Important Varroa strongly prefer drone brood. Thus, drone brood can be regularly removed, significantly reducing the bee:mite ratio in the colony. However, this is, essentially, castration; it it important to let the best hive(s) continue to produce drones during nectar flows, for selective reproduction. In both an artificial or natural swarm, it takes nine days for the brood produced to be capped. Treatment should be applied during this period. If immediate action if required, all capped brood may be removed from a colony. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/6c938aaf-0982-44c4-aacf-af61653637a4/Screenshot+%2825%29.jpg An Overview of Varroa Management - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/625ed14e-2d70-4e12-a139-78a8944a34e6/Screenshot+%2893%29.jpg An Overview of Varroa Management - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.beekept.org/tropical-beekeeping daily 0.75 2022-02-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/f1c180d4-266f-440f-bcc2-34f0a727a395/0414201337a.jpg Tropical Beekeeping - Honey flows in tropical areas tend to be unpredictable, geographically patchy, and involve more plant species. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/ac562bba-64d6-4c96-8b82-96c1dab2410c/4-Figure2-1.png Tropical Beekeeping Everything from worker behavior to colony growth and reproduction happens at a much faster pace in tropical bees. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/d36e71e1-81ef-4894-beb5-fa6649a8ecd7/swarm%2B5.jpg Tropical Beekeeping Difficulty in preventing tropical colonies from swarming is the single most important management problem facing beekeepers working these bees. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/9a9e0afb-aa0d-4065-9ddb-fdae543512eb/images.jpg Tropical Beekeeping An average of 30% of tropical colonies abandon their apiaries each year. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/d5376103-76f8-42c7-8ce5-74c9d28f038e/IMG_0071.jpg Tropical Beekeeping Tropical bees are more defensive because they experience a higher risk of predation than their temperate counterparts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/3854a5b5-9f92-4d5e-bd79-c2227644d948/2021.09++%2842%29.jpg Tropical Beekeeping Our understanding of the marvelous adaptations of tropical bees gives us the benefit of foresight, flexibility, and cooperation. https://www.beekept.org/bee-relocation daily 0.75 2022-04-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/23ddf5bb-4392-404c-b145-9af0e3ec507c/Vaughn1.jpg Bee Relocation - The first step of any removal is a consultation. Beekeepers can utilize tools like laser thermometers and stethoscopes to get an idea of nest dimensions. This is a good opportunity to identify restrictions, such as electrical access. Depending on the structure, beekeepers typically perform either a cut out, or a trap out. Both techniques have their challenges. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/736fe708-7406-4ae2-b5fe-d32e06b5a388/2022.03.31+Anita+Bible++%282%29.jpg Bee Relocation - There will be aftercare. Following the removal, homeowners that do not bee proof the empty nest site will repeat this experience. Swarm traps are becoming an increasingly amenable option to prevent reinfestation, but they do not work if the nest site is not properly bee proofed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/5c9da2b0-bb67-41ee-b937-808c6220224a/IMG_0827.jpg Bee Relocation - Cutting bees out of a structure is the quickest approach, but also the most laborious. Essentially, the beekeeper gains access to the nest and then physically removes the comb, brood, and bees. “Tools of the trade” vary wildly, but most folks utilize some sort of bee vacuum. A hive to rehome the bees is necessary, including empty frames into which comb can be secured with rubber bands. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/1868e1b9-51d8-40b7-b645-7f0f74796549/Vaughn2.jpg Bee Relocation - Trap outs are a gentler alternative, but take a much longer time. Bees can be encouraged to leave a structure if they can be successfully reduced to a single hive entrance. This can be done using tape, steel wool, plastic sheeting, and hardware cloth. Then a trapping device is applied, such as a cone. Foragers that leave the hive are unable to reenter, and the colony absconds once they don’t have enough resources to sustain their growth. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/ec295782-cf92-4ee8-9781-48b1aa9ac95b/20a3f745-0818-4a13-aa76-095ad30709e5.jpg Bee Relocation - Once either of these processes is complete, the beekeeper will typically need to return when the sun is down to ensure they’ve gathered all of the bees, including the foragers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/b0667ae3-2897-4ba1-921a-fd57fbbac668/20201214_102122_HDR.jpg Bee Relocation - Every situation is different. There is no perfect method of removing unwanted honey bees. Flexibility, creativity, and a solid understanding of honey bee biology are a beekeeper’s best tools. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/8f9b0103-4c2d-4c06-b3e0-1a29986bfbb9/IMG_0003.JPG Bee Relocation https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/7013c7ad-2dd7-4fe7-bac6-ef1dc58bf4bb/Carl4.jpg Bee Relocation https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/21102ef2-ee1f-4684-ac64-f01dd727efba/Dennis3.jpg Bee Relocation https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/5ac83e25-b466-4f21-93e6-d52b0a0e6101/2022.03.31+Anita+Bible++%281%29.JPG Bee Relocation https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/331e3e3d-527e-43f0-917f-fce198dd3c3f/Rita3.jpg Bee Relocation https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/e32cbd52-0415-4899-aa14-6833f4a2ee32/IMG_0062.JPG Bee Relocation https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/b8f1fe75-5f2d-4748-8c94-c88bb9eb57b8/Ivan3.jpg Bee Relocation https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/4c4f8456-4824-4e0a-ab64-c86c2c35d3c6/671639940.jpg Bee Relocation https://www.beekept.org/beekeeping-during-peak-season daily 0.75 2022-05-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/db1dba2d-7a6f-4ed2-8514-3266ddd133a3/1599150690936.jpg Beekeeping During Peak Season - A bustling colony can usually be identified without even opening it. Watch for foragers returning with full pollen baskets, as well as substantial orientation flights in the afternoons. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/76d8b1ad-2a7c-4c1d-82f2-33030f02543c/brood_03-scaled.jpg Beekeeping During Peak Season This time of year, reading the brood frames carefully will pay dividends during the dearth. The shoulders of brood frames should be filled with honey. It is common for wet nectar to rain from open cells when manipulating frames. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/7b9fa93f-da41-45fd-bfdf-a3eb841c3b48/2021.05++%2831%29.jpg Beekeeping During Peak Season Beekeeping is very forgiving during peak season. Proper preparation for the fall begins as soon as the nectar slows. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/55c37b7b-ad51-47f4-8fe9-d63fd0bfab6d/Fancy+Graph.jpg Beekeeping During Peak Season https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/a7b839f7-01d9-44f2-a100-4a8d0262b6cc/2022.04.06++%2816%29.jpg Beekeeping During Peak Season The dearth in late summer is a great opportunity to assess varroa populations, and decide a course of treatment before the fall nectar flow. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/b4bc66d6-4f3b-494e-a91e-7a858cf1bcde/Treatments.png Beekeeping During Peak Season Our understanding of the marvelous adaptations of tropical bees gives us the benefit of foresight, flexibility, and cooperation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/1709d8a0-5bd8-4bab-9355-07b73b6628db/20211107_093648.jpg Beekeeping During Peak Season Honey bee hives are at increased risk of predation from carnivorous insects, ants, lizards, skunks, toads, and bears, as easier food options become less available. Regular assaults from these threats increase defensiveness. https://www.beekept.org/propolis daily 0.75 2022-06-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/8a73adde-50e9-40fc-b572-c15b80f78ae9/Propolis-bee-beekeeping.jpg Propolis - Plants produce resins as a form of defense against pests and diseases. They are highly antimicrobial. Bees collect plant resins and apply them around the hive. This is a form of social immunity. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/41040897-dacb-46ad-bb07-6ca9739e6b7b/1c718ce20851c23d5ed01d788c42c228.jpg Propolis - Bees primarily collect resin from populus trees (cottonwood, balsam poplar) and conifers (pine, cedar, juniper). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/3e4a27c2-def2-47ef-8a61-90ae5e107edb/Screenshot+%28136%29.jpg Propolis - Propolis reduces the pathogenic microbes inside the nest, reducing the need for colony immune response. Fewer pathogenic microbes are found in the guts of bees living in a propolis-rich environment. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/96f10585-3379-43c0-b8b5-317d1803f0e5/GettyImages-1005053068-5c5e5d96c9e77c00010a4913.jpg Propolis - A lot about bees’ use of propolis isn’t fully understood. For example: Bees do not always choose the medicinally “strongest” resins. Bees collect more resin to self-medicate when they have fungal infections, but not when burdened by bacterial infections. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/7c7175d6-d217-4ccf-bde7-f98e579e6d6d/honey7.jpg Propolis - Of the main plant compounds reported in honey, few occur in floral nectar. All are common in propolis. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/bdadd37e-5f73-44b9-a5e7-d5c77c4d5f2d/1Conrad.jpg Propolis - Propolis can be collected either by scraping it off of hive equipment, or through the incorporation of propolis traps. Raw propolis can be chewed or softened and applied to wounds as a salve. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/dcb87029-5c8c-49dd-8aac-2ba0665094f8/Propolis-envelope-treatment-box-A-Propolis-traps-stapled-to-the-inside-walls-of-a-hive.jpg Propolis - To harvest propolis from a trap, it is usually frozen, then twisted. The hardened resin will shatter free . Frozen propolis can be pulverized into dust, then dissolved in warm oil or water. Using this method, the end product will need to be filtered to ensure it’s free of particles. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/f8702758-8845-4fcf-a6fd-a1ad15ee0189/making-tincture.jpg Propolis - To create a propolis tincture, a ratio of 2 parts resin to 10 parts alcohol should be combined in a sealed container, and shaken every day for a week. The contents will divide into a clear extract on top, and a darker sludge on the bottom. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/14006b56-4e97-47ff-9c1a-63400f659d3c/Screenshot+%28148%29.jpg Propolis - The darker sludge can be used to paint hive equipment, preserving it and creating a propolis envelope. The clear extract can be warmed in honey or oil until the alcohol evaporates. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/665ab6e4-aa57-45e2-a19a-7a05821585fa/512%2BJUUxzgL._SL500_.jpg Propolis - Propolis has anesthetic qualities that are superior to cocaine. It has great antibacterial, fungicidal, and antiviral properties, and stimulates the regeneration of tissues. Records of its use date back to ancient Egypt. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4d63402e63212b309315ba/5d0f907a-b9cf-4947-8540-8e2de1f35fd6/Vaughn1.jpg Propolis - These unique traits, along with anti-oxidation and phytoinhibition, make resin a popular ingredient in cosmetics, medicines, nutrition, and agriculture. Stradivarius violins traditionally included propolis in the composition of their varnishes.