Beekeeping News
A curated selection of worldwide feeds related around the topic of beekeeping and honeybees.
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A Comparison of Different Methods to Estimate Varroa Mite Infestation Kim Guillemette (NSCU) & David Tarpy (NSCU) BackgroundWhether one is an experienced beekeeper or a novice, navigating the management of Varroa mites can be confusing. Control measures can be complex, including temperature rest…
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Microplastics (MPs) are emerging toxicological contaminants capable of inducing oxidative stress, inflammation, and carrier-mediated transport of hazardous chemicals. Despite increasing evidence of MPs in processed foods, data on their presence in natural terrestrial foods and associated human expos…
Managing Varroa destructor in honey bee colonies remains a constant challenge for beekeepers, requiring a balance between maintaining mite levels low whilst minimizing the negative impacts of miticide treatments on bee health. Synthetic varroacides such as coumaphos, tau-fluvalinate, and amitraz are…
In temperate climates, winter can be an arduous time for eusocial insects. Survival of honeybee colonies during winter depends on a delicate balance between hive thermoregulation, managing the food reserves and timing the onset of the new worker bee generation. Winter survival is influenced by sever…
Nutrition is key to improve honey bees’ resilience to environmental stress factors that threaten their health. Yet, little is known about the micronutritional needs of colonies, in particular about molybdenum, an essential trace element in biology. This study focuses on a coordination complex based …
International Bee research Association is seeking a new Editor for Bee World journal. Bee World is an international journal which provides the link between science and beekeeping. As Editor of Bee World, you will be responsible for soliciting articles from a network of international contacts, as wel…
Some observations on the impact of low overnight temperatures on colony development and spring swarming, and the use of Taranov swarm control to partition the flying and 'non-flying' bees to prevent swarming.
Managed honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies have expanded globally, while wild bee populations continue to decline, raising concerns about interspecific food competition. We systematically reviewed 83 field studies evaluating food competition between A. mellifera and wild bees in both native (n =…
For many New Zealand beekeepers propolis has long sat in the background as an easy add-on, a modest earner, something that can be collected with relatively little extra effort. But in recent years, it has also become a source of frustration, as global supply chains and shifting demand reshape the ma…
Comvita Ltd has attracted two new cornerstone shareholders — Fraser and Neave Ltd, a Singaporean food and beverage enterprise, and PHC Investments Ltd, an Auckland-based company whose holdings focus on the aged care sector. If Comvita’s current effort to raise up to NZD30m in new equity succeeds, Fr…
Plans for a new industry group to represent commercial beekeepers are marching forward, with consultation having closed and plans to circulate a written constitution in May. Emerging as a key consideration is a delicate balancing act between pricing membership fees attainably, with achieving adequat…
As the calendar turns to May, and the hopes at a new and improved industry body for commercial beekeepers wind on, the time for a winter beekeeping ‘conference’ draws close. However, at this stage no national-level event is set on the beekeeping calendar.
While the leadership at the Ministry for Primary Industry’s (MPI) Biosecurity New Zealand are encouraged by a recent lack of yellow-legged hornet sightings, there is agreement that the incursion response must continue apace for at least another month before taking a new tact over winter.
Beekeeping is getting more and more challenging and a ‘sudden autumn decline’ of hives has veteran Hawke’s Bay beekeeper John Berry worried about the sustainability of beekeeping.
Gaining best value for pollination hives; thermal auditing of beehives; effective industry advocacy; and even that damn hornet – the Bay of Plenty Commercial Beekeepers group met on April 17 at the Mount Manganui offices of Zespri where, stimulated by attendance from various interested parties, a wi…
With the Iran-US war still resulting in closure of the Strait of Hormuz, former GCSB head Ian Fletcher surveys the playing field from New Zealand's vantage point.
Mānuka Orchard owner Logan Bowyer might have grown up on an orchard of a different kind – kiwifruit – but his dedication to the cause of bettering New Zealand’s honey industry is now well proven through his Paengaroa business. Eight years in, Mānuka Orchard is calling on any beekeepers wanting to im…
As the days shorten and nights cool, the bees flight time shortens, diets reduce and cluster tightens, and it’s got Bay of Plenty beekeeper Aimz thinking while she works the last round of the season.
Previously PhD student Jane Pierce’s research has identified the most likely areas of musculoskeletal disorders among beekeepers, now she reports on a recently-developed, free resource which provides an assessment of common beekeeping tasks with the goal of lowering injury risk.
The journey of 1000 miles starts with a single step; How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time; How do you build varroa resistance into your honey bees? You have to start looking. That is the philosophy and practice of bee breeder Rae Butler who says the results of several seasons in her breedi…
Inishturk Island, Co. Mayo, Ireland — March 23, 2026 A remote island community off Ireland’s west coast is set to become home to the country’s first dedicated native honey bee sanctuary, in a project aimed at protecting one of Europe’s most threatened pollinators. The initiative, approved by the Ini…
Web-based mapping tool for beekeepers, crop producers, and pesticide applicators WEST LAFAYETTE, IN (February 17, 2026) — FieldWatch, Inc., a nonprofit company that promotes communication and stewardship among crop producers, beekeepers and pesticide applicators, announces that Vermont has joined as…
Welcome Izzy Hill to the Project Apis m. Team! Izzy will be leading an exciting new program called the Bee Health Regulatory Consortium. Here are a few words from Izzy: “I am excited to be joining PAm and to help lead a new consortium focused on better addressing beekeeper needs, particularly access…
Queenright queen rearing using the 'Ben Harden system' is an ideal way to produce queens without the need for huge cell raising colonies, or compromising honey production. A 'little and often' approach helps mitigate adverse conditions, and mistakes made when learning. Try it!
Click Here if you listened. We’d love to know what you think. There is even a spot for feedback! Read along below! By: Theresa J. Martin Most beekeepers work alone at some point, whether by choice or necessity. In this multi-part series, we are exploring methods that make solo beekeeping more …
Click Here if you listened. We’d love to know what you think. There is even a spot for feedback! Read along below! The Universal Question From Both Beekeepers and Landowners By: James E. Tew Somewhere there is a perfect worldIn my mind’s eye, the sky is usually deep blue interrupted only by fl…
By: Becky Masterman Click Here if you listened. We’d love to know what you think. There is even a spot for feedback! Read along below! Honey Production Behind every bumper honey crop is a nectar flow. Some call it a honey flow. Frank Pellett, author of American Honey Plants, summarized honey p…
Click Here if you listened. We’d love to know what you think. There is even a spot for feedback! Read along below! Choosing the Best Colony Spacing By: Ross Conrad Feral honey bee research conducted by Cornell’s Tom Seeley on bees living in the Arnot Forest near Ithaca, New York suggests that …