- ONBG (OxNatBees) is an informal mutual support network for beginners and experienced beeks who aspire to practise bee-centric, low intervention, and chemical-free beekeeping in Oxfordshire. To join the group and share ideas, questions, information and experiences, please use this site's Contact Us form.
Next ONBG Meeting
Saturday 9th September, Steeple Aston – Warres, TBHs, feral colonies and preparation for winter
Twitter: @OxNatBees
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Recent Blog Posts
- Lore of the Honey Bee July 30, 2017
- ONBG meeting, 15th July 2017 – a rooftop apiary July 24, 2017
- OxNatBees exhibit at RSA Motivate July 14, 2017
- ‘Inspecting’ your bees – the low-intervention way July 5, 2017
- Neonicotinoids implicated again June 29, 2017
- Summer starvation warning June 17, 2017
- ONBG meeting, 13th May 2017 – swarms and exotic hives June 7, 2017
- Bees in trees May 29, 2017
- The ‘other’ bees: Steven Falk workshop May 22, 2017
- Cob beehive – an experimental top-bar hive adaption May 5, 2017
- Adapting to foundationless frames in a National hive May 2, 2017
- The Bee Meeting: North Tawton and South Leigh April 8, 2017
- ONBG meeting, 1st April 2017 – an emergency cut-out April 4, 2017
- Spreading the Bee Buzz #11 – Starting Beekeeping March 29, 2017
- Two swarms in the same hive: an update March 22, 2017
- ONBG meeting, 12 March 2017 March 14, 2017
- Beginners start here March 2, 2017
- Angry bees February 16, 2017
- Winter forage February 8, 2017
- Calm bees February 5, 2017
Tag Archives: Research
New research on natural selection and honey bee health
An interesting paper by heavyweight apiology researchers Professor Peter Neumann and Dr Tjeerd Blacquière is being published in the mainstream, peer reviewed research journal Evolutionary Applications. The paper recommends major changes to beekeeping practises in order to address various health … Continue reading
Posted in Experimentation, Honey bee research, Pests, Publications, Research
Tagged bee health, natural selection, Research, Varroa
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Pesticide-related confusion in pollinators and politicians — by Stirling Conservation Science
By Penelope Whitehorn of Stirling Conservation Science – “I arrived confused about this topic and I will leave as confused as ever.” This was the parting comment from the only MP in the room and not the outcome we were … Continue reading
DWV research – bee samples required
Deformed Wing Virus (DWV), while around for many years, has become a significant problem for honey bees following the rise of varroa mites which facilitate the transferrral of the more virulent form of this pathogen. Several research projects have been … Continue reading
Wisdom from an old beekeeper – especially on varroa
I recently had the pleasure of meeting Ron Hoskins, who has been keeping bees since 1943 (over 70 years!). He has been on the BBKA executive committee, trained lots of new beekeepers, and is well known, firstly, for his conservation … Continue reading
Interesting tidbits
I have finally managed to digest the 53 page document at the core of DEFRA’s public consultation on improving honey bee health. It’s a mass of cross-references, repeated / scattered data and stop-start-in-another-place themes – almost as if they didn’t … Continue reading
Posted in Inspections, Research, Uncategorized
Tagged bee health, Beebase, CCD, chalk brood, consultation, DEFRA, disease, FERA, Research, Varroa Mites
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Zombie flies and why we are lucky to live in the UK
A friend in Washington State, USA sent me a link to an article relating to zombie flies. Actually the flies are decapitating flies because that is apparently what they do to honeybees. However we are seeing an unprecedented rise in invasive … Continue reading
Posted in Ecology, Hives
Tagged Bees, CCD, climate change, fungi, indigenous species, invasive species, milder climate, nature, Parasites, Research, trees, viruses
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Another new pesticide study
In broad agreement with the recent British and French studies, this new study in the US also indicates that the neonicotinid Imidacloprid is a cause of colony collapse: New pesticide link to sudden decline in bee population – The Independent.
