Chalkbrood is a fungal disease affecting honey bee larvae, especially in cool, damp conditions. Learn how to manage and prevent it through ventilation, strong colony care, and good nutrition.
Pollen is vital to honey bee health, supporting brood growth and immunity. Learn how to ensure adequate pollen stores and when to use pollen substitutes effectively.
Beekeeping goes beyond hive inspections; it’s about truly understanding your colony. Observing honeycomb patterns, bee behaviours, and subtle hive changes can tell you everything from the health of the queen…
In a natural nest, “bee space” is the gap that honey bees leave open, allowing them to move freely within their hive. Typically, bees avoid filling this space with propolis…
The Demaree method is a time-tested beekeeping technique used to control swarming, facilitate queen replacement, and even produce nuclei. Originally developed by George Demaree in 1884, it rearranges the colony…
If you’re a UK beekeeper wondering how to price your 8oz (227g) jars of honey, you’re not alone. Whether you’re selling at markets, online, or to farm shops, setting a…
Discover the Bailey comb change process, a beekeeping technique to replace old, disease-prone comb with fresh wax, improving hive hygiene and reducing virus load. Ideal for early spring when colonies…
DWV is a leading cause of honey bee colony losses worldwide. Discover how this virus spreads through Varroa mites, what science says about its variants, and how new beekeepers can…
In beekeeping, one critical decision for hive setup is whether to use Top Bee Space (TBS) or Bottom Bee Space (BBS). Bee space refers to the specific gap in a…
Queen cells are a natural and essential part of a bee colony, often signalling key moments like swarming, queen replacement, or an emergency response to a missing queen. Understanding these…
Richard Senior