The Way To Bee

Interview with Dr. Kurt Vandegrift regarding Viruses that Infect Wild Rodents, how disease spreads between small mammals. Avoid being infected.

This is the audio track from today's YouTube Video:  https://youtu.be/mOlgDm3R2qE

Disease ecology with an emphasis on the population dynamics of zoonotic parasites and reservoir hosts.

What about mice in bee hives? Or mice in bee equipment storage areas?

Want do a deeper dive on some of Dr. Vandergrift's research?

This link is for you:  https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=-fQ9N3sAAAAJ&hl=en

Chapters

00:00 introduction Kurt Vandegrift

00:59 Kurt introduces himself

02:55 White Footed Mouse aka Deer Mouse

04:40 Tail snip identification process for DNA of mice

06:14 Impact of deworming mice

07:56 How many mice are in a given area, what’s the population?

09:10 A deer mouse is a deer mouse, what’s the difference?

11:19 Hantavirus in mice, and spread.

13:00 Wet surfaces with 10% bleach, or 70% alcohol.

14:33 The multi-capture mouse trap researchers use for mice.

15:49 Same mouse repeatedly caught in the same trap.

16:20 A mile isn’t far enough away, they come back.

18:50 Oats are the best bait for researchers live traps.

20:00 Risk of infection from rodents to humans.

23:00 Mouse deterrents? Great Stuff Pro PESTBLOCK “won’t harm bees”

29:45 Porcupines and Gray Squirrels chew aluminum traps.

30:43 Why we need Deer Mice or the White Footed Mouse, a keystone species.

32:00 The right time to place a mouse barrier on your bee hive.

36:57 What precautions should beekeepers take?

42:40 Masked Shrew and other less observed rodents.

48:00 Winter survival rate of white footed mice.

50:00 Tick transmission of disease.

52:00 A nematode that is named after Dr. Kurt Vandegrift.

56:25 Deer Mice will eat honey bees when they are dead.

58:36 Problems with Lab Mice over Wild Specimens, aside from expense.

01:01:00 Unexpected results with testosterone testing in mice.

01:02:35 Is it ok to keep wild mouse species as pets? NO!

01:05:02 Fred wants to test a portable U/V Light as a sanitizer.

01:06:15 What animal species may bother honey bee hives at night?

01:11:30 Why is that mouse trap empty? Why is there a coating on the trap?

01:13:50 What about RATS?

01:15:00 What about jumping mice? Aka meadow jumping mouse.

01:17:30 Acorn abundance tied to some mouse population numbers.

01:19:20 The Opossum, an amazing marsupial, what are they good for?

01:23:10 Chickens, other poultry, current influenza risks. H5N1

01:27:00 Avoid contact with wild animals as much as possible. Deer Populations are at risk.

01:29:15 Dogs that eat wild animal feces.

01:29:45 Do NOT feed corn to deer, here’s why. CWD among other issues.

01:35:40 Problems associated with Bats in Australia and pathogen spread. Dangerous to humans.

01:38:43 Some after interview bonus discussion… Ticks!

01:44:30 END of discussion.

Interview with Author and Beekeeper, Hilary Kearney.

Hilary Kearney is the author of Queen Spotting, and The Little Book of Bees.

This is the audio track from today's YouTube Video:  https://youtu.be/Rpegyci27rQ

 

 

Backyard Beekeeping Questions And Answers Episode 236, does Oxalic Acid Really Work?

This is the audio track from today's YouTube video:  https://youtu.be/Ave6tG62opQ

Topics and time-stamps are generously provided by Adam Holmes

1) What do you think of a recent video doubting the effectiveness of Oxalic Acid control of varroa mites? Does OA only slow varroa production? 4:25

2) Do you insulate your Flow-Hives with Double Bubble, or do you recommend the BeeSmart Insulated Inner Cover? 27:43

3) If you don't want more hives, and your colonies are building a population, and you're passed the swarm impulse, what can you do next? 42:54

4) I have well insulated hives, how do I know if my bees are getting enough water in winter? 49:09

5) I'm having a well drilled within 75 feet of my hives. Should I close up the hives? I would hate for the crew to get swarmed by angry bees! 56:28

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 235. How to feed honey back to a hive and more...

This is the audio track from today's YouTube video:  https://youtu.be/fCjAbzM2GVo

 

The associated video time stamps and topics are generously provided by Adam Holmes

1) Did you try different treatments on your plywood bottom boards that failed early? 5:18

 

2) Another beekeeper told me that I need to move my hives to the top of a hill because bees won't forage uphill. Is that true? 10:45

 

3) When planting for honey bees, why is it better to plans large plantings of single species over a pollinator mix? 15:22

 

4) Have you ever seen a larvae trap for small hive beetles that hangs on the hive landing board? 22:20

 

5) I asked my Forrest preserve friend if it's ok to buy plant seeds and throw them throughout the forest preserve? He said "don't you dare"! 27:37

 

6) I have some extra honey from 2022 spring honey harvest and I don't like the taste. I would like to feed it back to the hive it was harvested from. What's the best way to feed harvested honey back to the bees? 34:38

 

https://www.fredsfinefowl.com/mystore.html

 

 

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 234 RECORDED LIVE on Black Friday

Welcome to another edition of Backyard Beekeeping topics.

This episode was LIVE-streamed on Friday, the 24th of November, you can watch the YouTube video here: https://youtube.com/live/mNSiKL6QCnE?feature=share

 

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 233

This is the audio track from today's YouTube Video:  https://youtu.be/SyqjqqWgJ4M

Video topics and associated time stamps are generously provided by Adam Holmes

1) Is there any science or studies that demonstrate the bees forage direction may be influenced by the entrance direction? 2:48

2) I'm interested in plans for your Bee Porch. I could not find them. 7:37

3) Can you explain what a vertical split is and how it's done? 10:24

4) Would it be a good thing to control swarming with the Queen Isolation cage? Would it reduce swarming or impact the swarm instinct? 17:28

5) I have a huge stand of eucalyptus nearby. What's the best way to capture this nectar flow? 24:29

6) In the 40s and 50s is it OK to put out pollen substitute the way you did? Will they overproduce brood? 27:29

7) Can I split a 8 or 10 frame hive into two 4 or 5 frame hives with a slatted rack using a single entrance? 47:24

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 232, working bees at night and more...

This is the Audio Track from today's YouTube Video:  https://youtu.be/awniz4sZvZs

Topics and associated time stamps are generously provided by Adam Holmes

1) One of my hives is dying. What should I do with the resources in that hive? 4:04

 

2) Is there a way to isolate kinds of honey in specific locations in the hive? Are supers capped when pulled? 12:00

 

3) I'm wondering if any backyard beekeepers have 2x5 over 5 deeps with a common flow hive super on top? 21:19

 

4) Is the reason for the hole in the inner cover simply to feed when needed? Could you cover it up? Do bees propolize double bubble? 25:15

 

5) How do you build up resource colonies? Can you start another hive with two frames of brood? 32:07

 

6) Do honey bees see red lights at night? Is there proven science? 39:12

 

7) With pest management trays in winter, should we clean them out and turn them over? Or is mineral oil ok through winter? 44:51

 

8) What kind of Tote-bucket do you use to store or remove horizontal Layens frames? 49:05

 

 

 

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 231, why there are so many frame choices and their benefits.

This is the audio track from today's YouTube video:  https://youtu.be/ZtQRwdhfVFw

 

Topics and associated time-stamps from the video are generously provided by Adam Holmes. 

1) What is the correct orientation for honeycomb cells? 4:05

 

2) Do you think that Hive Alive fondant can be sliced up and placed inside a frame feeder for a Layens Hive? 10:31

 

3) Will the Ivry-B Hive survive a cold winter? 22:07

 

4) What is a foundationless frame? 23:45

 

5) In Ontario, Canada, I'm in a panic over the decision to go with or without vents with so much water running out. 33:33

 

6) I want to turn one of my strong hives into a dedicated foundation builder. What setup would you recommend? 44:06

 

7) Do you, and how do you, feed your Layens Hive? If you treat with Oxalic Acid Vaporization how do you implement that? 50:04

 

8) I've tried many different sized entrances for my wintering setup. Shrews got through my wire last year and killed some of my nucleus hives. 1:02:22

 

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 230, fondant vs sugar for emergency winter feed and more...

This is the audio track from today's YouTube video: https://youtu.be/w4Ycle_BFVo

Topics and associated time-links have been generously provided by Adam Holmes

1) Should I modify my Layens Hive to install a screen bottom board? 10:36

2) I'm considering a Long-Langstroth hive, does the side the entrance is on matter? 15:58

3) Questions about candy boards vs fondant, vs dry sugar as a winter emergency feed. Will pollen patties cause brood rearing in winter? 20:10

4) What research or testing is presently being done to eradicate varroa destructor mites? 51:15

5) Have you ever left your Flow-Super on during winter? 58:25

6) I'm considering wrapping my hives for the first time. Will this cause more activity in the hive and result in more resource consumption? 1:09:10

7) Regarding OA at the end of November, aren't your temps below 48 degrees f? Is there a temp where you would be wasting your time? 1:17:19

8) If I put a jar of honey in the freezer, do I risk glass breakage? 1:26:14

9) How long is it safe/ok to keep honey in a warmer, would it be ok to leave honey in a warmer at 100 degrees to stop crystallization for 6 months to a year? 1:29:00

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 229, can drones or queens feed themselves? And much more!

This is the audio track from today's YouTube Video:  https://youtu.be/GuWKRjWIpCQ

 

Topic and time stamps generously provided by Adam Holmes

1) At what age do you usually replace queens? Assuming no issues. 7:44

 

2) What would you suggest for taking notes during an inspection with gloves on? I want to keep records digitally, but I'm not sure what to try. 17:45

 

3) With the general consensus that an apiary should be treated for varroa and not just the hive with high mite counts. What do you do in the case where you have a hive that really needs to be treated? 26:00

 

4) For the podcast, can we skip the random music intro/outro? 36:58

 

5) I have two hives that appear queenless. I am packing them down and there is a large population. No eggs or larvae. My question is, could this be a genetic thing that the queen has ceased laying before the other colonies around? 38:20

 

6) You often talk of bridging the gap between treatment and treatment free beekeepers. So far you've only had two interviews with treatment free beekeepers. 49:19

 

7) I requeened a hive with a BeeWeaver Queen early this year. that hive has consistently been the spiciest hive in my apiary to the point where I couldn't even manage the mite count on it for comparison. Have you had any issues with their queens being aggressive? 1:14:17

 

8) You mentioned that drones can't feed themselves. Is this true? Queens can feed themselves if they have to, correct? 1:17:40