I finally got a chance to do something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. I got to sit down and talk with a real South African beekeeper about the impact of varroa mites, and their current indifference to them. Enjoy!
Skip down to the part about mites: https://www.arc.agric.za/arc-ppri/Pages/Insect%20Ecology/Honeybee-Pests-and-Diseases.aspx
A few weeks ago, I was featured on the local, and Philadelphia news (on the same day!). I actually got to tell the truth about honeybees, and didn’t regurgitate the same 3 talking points every other beekeeper says when a camera is recording them.
Below is the link to the Philadelphia Action News broadcast which was a little more standard.
https://6abc.com/berks-county-beekeeper-pennsylvania-bees-bee-removal-bruce-rodriguez/10651843/
What do you think? How did I do?
I was not expecting this many mice in my overwintered swarm trap colony.
I recently learned that in many countries, eating honeybee and wasp brood is common. I found a beautiful section of newly drawn and capped drone brood in a spacer on a hive I was working, so I decided today was the day to try it. My American friends think I’m crazy for doing this. They may be right, but you only live once. Wasp brood is next.
Earth day brought 48°F for the high temperature, and my first swarm call of the year that I could comfortably drive to. The swarm issued from a tree that has had a honeybee colony in it for a few years. Despite the cold, the bees were relatively well-behaved, and went right into the hive. I noticed several other trees that looked hollow on my way off the property. I expect to return in a few days for secondary swarms.
In a recent livestream on my YouTube channel I discussed why I don’t call the death of a colony a “loss” in my operation. Skip to the 3:45 mark to get to the good part. I’d love to hear your feedback as always.
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