The “new” beekeeping calls for the need to sample bees in August, September and October to see how they are doing at keeping varroa mite populations in check. If mite numbers exceed 2-3%, it is suggested that due to risk of poor overwintering of the colony, colony loss (to BEE PMS) overwinter or the chance […]
Mite-a-Thon Sept 9-16 Read More »
All OR bee hives have or will have varroa mites. It is important to know how many mites are present. Knowing how many mites provides an estimate of approximate risk of mites increasing fall colony losses. Starting sampling in July and continuing into October can trigger decisions on whether control might be needed to improve
July Starts Mite Monitoring/Control Read More »
All OR bee hives have or will have varroa mites. It is important to know how many mites are present. Knowing how many mites provides an estimate of approximate risk of mites increasing fall colony losses. Starting sampling in July and continuing into October can trigger decisions on whether control might be needed to improve
July Starts Mite Monitoring/Control Read More »
At the March and April WVBA meetings, I distributed paper copies and directed members to a web-based colony loss survey, a continuing effort to define overwintering success of backyard beekeepers in Oregon. This was the 9th year of such survey activity. I received 282 responses from OR backyarders, keeping anywhere from 1 to 48 colonies;
Winter loss report WVBA Read More »
At the March and April WVBA meetings, I distributed paper copies and directed members to a web-based colony loss survey, a continuing effort to define overwintering success of backyard beekeepers in Oregon. This was the 9th year of such survey activity. I received 282 responses from OR backyarders, keeping anywhere from 1 to 48 colonies;
Winter loss report WVBA Read More »
At the April meeting (April 24) we knew of only a single swarm. Rich covered swarming in his comments and his comments will be posted in the meeting minutes. we should begin to hear of local bee swarms in May and June. Swarming means different things to different individuals. Some beekeepers see swarms as a
Let the SWARMS begin Read More »
At the April meeting (April 24) we knew of only a single swarm. Rich covered swarming in his comments and his comments will be posted in the meeting minutes. we should begin to hear of local bee swarms in May and June. Swarming means different things to different individuals. Some beekeepers see swarms as a
Let the SWARMS begin Read More »
Last year, 271 OR/WA backyarder beekeepers returned April surveys on overwintering colony losses/survivorship, and management such as colony feeding, sanitation and Varroa control efforts. There were 38 WVBA respondents included in the OR report, which are posted on the website: http://pnwhoneybeesurvey.com/survey-results/2015-16-survey-reports/ Colony loss levels last year from WVBA respondents were 31% for 8-frame and
Survivorship Survey – PNW Honey Bee Health & Beekeeping Practices Read More »
Last year, 271 OR/WA backyarder beekeepers returned April surveys on overwintering colony losses/survivorship, and management such as colony feeding, sanitation and Varroa control efforts. There were 38 WVBA respondents included in the OR report, which are posted on the website: http://pnwhoneybeesurvey.com/survey-results/2015-16-survey-reports/ Colony loss levels last year from WVBA respondents were 31% for 8-frame and
Survivorship Survey – PNW Honey Bee Health & Beekeeping Practices Read More »
There was an informative webinar mid-January from Bee Culture Magazine [“The Kim and Jim Show”] that was all about packages. You can still view the one-hour broadcast at Bee Culture webpage www.beeculture.org Look for it filed under events. Kim and Jim discussed only packages but their comments would generally apply to nucs, although with a
STARTING PACKAGES/NUCS Read More »
