The Way To Bee

Frederick Dunn Interviews Dr. Marla Spivak, Ph.D. at the University of Minnesota about her career and discoveries.

This is the audio track from today's YouTube Video:  https://youtu.be/1ojOtaqTisc

 

Below are links to the University and other related information. Link to the University of Minnesota Bee Lab: https://beelab.umn.edu/

The Spivak Lab, photo of a 1922 Bee Class: https://beelab.umn.edu/spivak-lab

Learn more about propolis studies at the Bee Lab: https://beelab.umn.edu/spivak-lab/research

What you can do to help the honey bees and other pollinators: https://beelab.umn.edu/actions-help-bees

Endowed Chair at the University Bee Lab support link: https://beelab.umn.edu/endowed-chair-honey-bee-research

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers LIVE Streamed Episode 242

This is the audio from today's LIVE Streamed YouTube Video:  https://youtube.com/live/1amlE8OVWEg?feature=share

 

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 241, how cold is too cold for bees?

This is the audio track from today's YouTube video:  https://youtu.be/t7APQShzsJc

Topics are time stamps are generously provided by Adam Holmes

1) I'm transitioning my hive from 10 to 8 frame. Will the 10 frame slatted rack present a problem? 3:07

 

2) If bees are completely out of honey, is fondant enough? 5:38

 

3) We have 3" of snow on the landing board, since snow is an insulator is it necessary to remove it? 16:56

 

4) Is it ok to move hives around in winter, or will that be confusing to the bees? 22:03

 

5) Is there a risk of my bees moving sugar syrup honey up into the honey supers once I put them on? 24:40

 

6) Is there any diversity in varroa mites? How far can a mite travel on its own? 29:10

 

7) Next weeks' temps might be the final straw for my nucleus hive. I decided to put foam insulation around the nuc. 37:02

 

8) I went out to check hives at -18 f, some bees came out and promptly died in the cold. 40:15

 

 

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 240, a new swarm collection device, heavy winds are coming, don’t open that hive.

This is the audio track from today's YouTube video:  https://youtu.be/Y2U6ddIKjMc

Topics and timestamps below are generously provided by Adam Holmes

1) I have new insulated inner covers coming today, should I remove the existing ones and replace them or wait for warmer weather? 4:46

2) A bear attacked our hives. If we don't have the queen what can we do? Worry about a laying worker? 7:15

3) I think I washed my queen on October 5th. Do you think it's possible that my bees made a new queen that late in the season? 11:55

4) I think I trapped a mouse inside one of my hives. Should I drop the bottom board and get it out, or lock it inside? 16:43

5) Have you heard about bees emitting a sound to plants, and the plants release higher sugar nectar? 20:27

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 239 follower boards instead of nucleus hives?

This is the audio track from Episode 239 on YouTube: https://youtu.be/GaY0mMeuULE?si=a40oqGzdh89_byZB

 

Timeline

00:00 Opening Scenes 01:20 Intro

03:34 1) Use of Dummy Boards

12:15 2) Pollen, Ultra Bee Powder, Sugar Syrup in winter

23:59 3) Spring rotation of brood boxes

30:44 4) Ross Rounds in Nucleus Hives. Do you freeze before cutting?

40:37 5) Queen Introduction/Isolation. Clearance? 46:58 Comments. Use of stethoscope.

50:47 End Scenes

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode 238 recorded LIVE

This is the audio track from Today's YouTube:  https://youtube.com/live/vospM6Dc_5U?feature=share

 

Join us live on the last Friday of every month via  YouTube from 4 to 5 PM Eastern Standard Time U.S. 

This list of topics and time-stamps is generously provided by Adam Holmes.

1) Since feral colonies of bees construct their comb lengthwise with the cavity, would it be a good idea with a Long Langstroth to run the frames/comb lengthwise? 1:30

2) I'm going to try attracting Varroa to the drone brood with the queen isolation cage. Can you review how you would do that? 6:07

3) With the Queen Excluder and Queen Isolation Cages, when and why would you use the double-frame Queen Isolation Cage? 25:03

4) Last year when nothing was blooming, bees were bringing in tan colored pollen. I found that people report bees bringing in pollen from animal feed, chicken, cattle etc... 45:09

5) With your 5-Frame nucleus hives with the fixed bottom board, how well do the bees keep the floor cleaned when compared to the entrances that are on the landing board? 48:30

6) Jus wondering what the red plastic things with the solar panels hanging from the hives are? 58:58

7) I've had a few hives already burn through the 2 pounder Hive Alive. 1:05:10

Backyard Beekeeping Questions and Answers Episode # 237, Christmas weekend is here!

This is the audio track from today's YouTube Video:  https://youtu.be/l93OPQ6cm3Q

 

This is the link to plans mentioned in today's video:  https://www.fredsfinefowl.com/plansprints.html

Video topic related time-stamps are provided by Adam Holmes

Chapters: 00:00 Introduction

05:27 Is it better to place waxed foundation below or above the existing brood?

07:56 Do you use Apiary-specific management software to help keep records for your apiary?

13:37 Regarding recorded sounds from inside the hive, What are the frequencies?

22:28 Is there an age at which the Queen should be replaced? What is the best time or season to replace her?

33:37 Can RAW Honey Cure a Sick Chicken?

40:06 Will drones from the same queen appear similar?

48:20 I ordered two queens What would be the best way to introduce them?

01:01:00 When bees abscond in the fall, are they queenless?

01:06:47 Regarding oxalic acid treatments, if you take the queen out of the hive for 16 days until all brood emerges, could you end up with a laying worker?

01:11:18 I'm building two Long Langstroth Hives for next year's swarms. Will bees be able to move horizontally?

01:22:44 Should a hive be tilted forward if there is a slatted rack in use?

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