Tag Archives: Varroa

Convergent theories

Posted on September 17, 2019 by Paul

A potential problem with a natural beekeeping group is: members never talk to conventional beekeepers. So 14 of us visited a large (80 hive) commercial apiary… with a twist. It’s run by the Swindon Honeybee Conservation Group, headed by Ron … Continue reading →

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Learnings from the Learning from the Bees conference

Posted on November 27, 2018 by Paul

In my earlier post on the Learning from the Bees conference, I discussed the “who was there and what it was about” aspects. This article covers what I actually learned about bees. I always particularly enjoy lectures and books covering … Continue reading →

Posted in Pests | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

ONBG meeting, 16th Nov 2017 – insulation, honey and mites

Posted on January 15, 2018 by Paul

On a winter’s evening a dozen folk gathered at the Victoria Arms in Oxford to discuss, you guessed it, bees and beekeeping. Jack had brought along the heat-vision FLIR camera he used to photograph his hives’ heat profile in a … Continue reading →

Posted in Honey, Meetings, ONBG, Pests | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

New research on natural selection and honey bee health

Posted on November 17, 2016 by Paul

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 →

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DWV research – bee samples required

Posted on April 20, 2016 by Lynne

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 →

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Making a shook swarm

Posted on April 19, 2016 by Paul

Although natural beeks employ a low intervention approach, there can come times when some direct intervention may be appropriate. I do not use miticides, rather allowing the colonies to utilise natural selection to find those that have the right behaviours … Continue reading →

Posted in Inspections, Swarms, Warré | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

ONBG meeting, 19th March 2016

Posted on April 2, 2016 by Paul

11 people met at Alison’s in Cumnor to discuss plans for the new beekeeping season, eat biscuits, examine her Top Bar Hive and discuss winter survival, including mouseguards, feeding and varroa. We started by discussing feeding. This is the time … Continue reading →

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