Bees build up reserves for the winter season when food is scarce.  But beekeepers also “steal” honey from the hive before the end of each year. It’s a careful balancing act between how much you should take and how much to leave the bees 🙂 Obviously, you need to ensure colonies have enough food to…

The winter season is difficult for your bees, and beekeepers need to know when and when not to open a hive during this time.  Opening the hive for too long when the temperature is too low can spell disaster for the colony.  Pre-winter preparation is key to reducing the need to inspect hives in winter….

Like many hobbies, beekeepers have unique terminology when talking about honey bee activities.  The term “bee cleansing flights” is one of those expressions. It might seem pretty bemusing to newbies.  So what are these cleansing flights, when do they occur, and how do you know when you are observing them? Let’s find out… Honey Bee…

Bee colonies are less active in winter, reduce in size, and become more vulnerable. Is it a good idea to move your beehives to a new location during winter, or will this move in the winter season compromise the bees? We will answer these winter beekeeping questions so you know your best course of action…

Beekeeping is an activity that ebbs and flows with the seasons.  So beekeepers must understand what happens in the colony at different times throughout the year. For example, the onset of autumn marks a slowing down of activity inside the hive. And in the fall, you need to know how to manage bees to prepare…

Overwintering bees can be a nerve-racking time for beekeepers. We want to keep them alive, well-fed, and healthy so that the colony survives the winter and is ready for work in the upcoming spring.  But if your bees are struggling, you’ll probably need to feed them when they reach the coldest part of the year….

Many new beekeepers looking inside the hive may be unable to distinguish between capped honey and capped brood.  After all… Once it’s covered in wax, how do you tell the difference? In this article, I’ll teach you how to identify and differentiate the two. This will give you a better idea of your bees’ health…

During a routine inspection, new beekeepers may be alarmed when finding many dead bees outside the hive.  In some cases, this is a cause for concern and requires further investigation. But in other instances, it’s a part of the natural life cycle of the colony.  However, certain clues about the deaths will help you figure…

Most beekeepers try to keep swarming under control.  After all… there’s a chance you might lose a good proportion of your bees if you can’t lure the swarm back into a new hive. That said, a swarm is a positive sign from your honey bees that they are happy, healthy, and growing. And sometimes you…

Several pests can cause trouble for your honey bees, but two of the most common are small hive beetles and wax moths. Both are a real nuisance. And they can be tricky to identify if you come across them for the first time. But each has distinct characteristics that will help you tell them apart….