- 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 15th July, Oxford – rooftop apiary
Twitter: @OxNatBees
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Recent Blog Posts
- 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
- Spreading the Bee Buzz #10 – Surviving Winter February 2, 2017
- Modelling a Beehive January 30, 2017
- “How many bees?” January 30, 2017
- Open mating and genetics – Drones January 14, 2017
- Bees nest in a tree (not quite) January 12, 2017
Tag Archives: Varroa
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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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
Making a shook swarm
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
ONBG meeting, 19th March 2016
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
Spreading the Bee Buzz #6 – Spring cleaning
Below is the latest in our series on beekeeping for the village magazine. Having covered the basics last year, with an article every 2 months, we’re now going into things in a bit more detail, but still writing in a … Continue reading
Trends in beekeeping #2
This is a wide-ranging article, part of an occasional series, intended to touch on recent developments in beekeeping that have caught my attention – discussion welcomed! Topics covered here include: Hygienic behaviour Varroa virus blocking – important new research just … Continue reading
Posted in Ecology, Multi-part series, Publications, Research, Stings, Trends in Beekeeping
Tagged DWV, eco floor, hygienic behaviour, SHB, Varroa, viruses
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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
