Library Categories
* This web page still functions but became too big to open and edit so an updated version is available from the menu bar at the top of the page. In the new version the library is divided into several pages. Enjoy!
- Beekeeping
Books- Beekeeping Video Series
- Online Education
- Regional
- Bee Biology
- Basic Beekeeping Information
- Hive Inspection
- Splits, Nucs and Packages
- Swarms
- Feeding
- Winter Management
- Varroa Mites
- Small Hive Beetle
- Bears
- Skunks
- Wasps
- Diseases
- Queen Rearing
- Commercial Beekeeping
- History
- Eva Crane
- Hygienic Behaviour
- Pesticides and Bees
- Products from Beekeeping
- Honey Recipes
- Native Pollinators
- Planting for Pollinators
- Bee Lining
Education - Teaching programs and lesson plans
- Webinars
Books
- Children's Books
* This web page became too big to open and edit so an updated version is available from the menu bar at the top of the page. In the new version the library is divided into several pages. Enjoy!
* To
search for
a specific
word on
this page
like
Varroa or
Nosema you
can use
crtl +
f
on your
keyboard
to bring
up
word
search
on your
browser.
A very
useful
tool.
Getting Started
Starting
Beekeeping
in
Ireland by
Thomas
Carroll
sources
of
additional
information
from an
Irish
centric
perspective.
Why did I
write this
eBook? The
need for
this book
came to me
when I
searched
for as
simple and
straightforward
text on
how to
start
beekeeping
in
Ireland.
I was
restarting
my
beekeeping
here in
2015.
I wanted a
plain and
straight
to the
point book
which was
up to date
and
appropriate
in the
Irish
context. I
wanted a
book at a
sensible
price
which was
available
in
electronic
format (an
eBook)
which I
could
easily and
quickly
download
and start
reading.
I could
not find
or easily
access a
suitable
publication
to assist
me and
therefore
decided to
write the
book my
self to
assist
others who
may be
trying to
start
beekeeping...
I have
spent over
two years
researching
and
writing
this
eBook. I
hope that
you find
it useful
and
helpful.
I would be
delighted
to hear
from you
and to get
your
feedback."
Tom
Carroll
PHD,
Killenure
Nursery,
Ballybrittas,
Co Laois.
Website
- Apiconsult
Canadian Best Management Practices for Honey Bee Health (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada) - "Best Management Practices (BMPs) for the honey bee industry are developed by different levels and divisions of government, various organizations, institutions and stakeholders. Content ranging from regulations for pest and disease treatment thresholds to management of colonies during pollination services are included. While in many cases these recommendations are readily available, their authors are varied and the publications are provided by diverse sources. Some recommendations will apply to the Canadian nation as a whole, while others will only relate to specific areas of the country. The BMPs discussed in this document refer to those that pertain to honey bee health. Traceability aspects like food safety, beekeeper safety and environmental safety are not included within this BMP document."
"Before
leaving, I
would like,
dear bees, to
carve my name
on these
leaves,
blessed shrub
that has taken
all its sap
from around
your dwelling
place.
In its shade,
I have rested
from my
weariness,
have healed my
wounds. Its
horizon
satisfies my
desires for
there I can
see the
heavens.
Its solitude
is more gentle
than deep.
Your friends
are visiting
it. You
enliven it
with your
singing.
And because
you do not
die, dear
bees, you will
sing again and
for ever, in
the
surrounding
foliage, where
my spirit will
rest.
Thank
you.
E.Warré"
A
Beginner's
Guide to
Beekeeping
in Kenya
by Thomas
Carroll, Msc.
(Agr.)

Both the
experienced
beekeeper and
the novice
will find a
mine of useful
information,
guidance and
suggestions in
this guide,
which FAO
hopes will be
a valuable
contribution
to food
security and
economic
development in
Africa.
Beekeeping
Manual for
Farmers in
Sikkim,
India
by Dr. Peter
Gross
"Beekeeping
has been a
traditional
household
activity in
Sikkim for
centuries.
Rural
communities
throughout the
state have
adopted this
activity as
substantial
part of their
sustainable
livelihoods.
In
Beekeeping
in the
Phillipines
(University of
the
Phillipines)
community. Today, there is a cooperative of beekeepers in Sagada that seeks to encourage individuals to take up beekeeping. This Kit covers the following aspects of beekeeping, including discussions
particular to Cordillera conditions, in four sections, as follows:
Section 1: An Introduction to Beekeeping
Section 2: The Bee Farm
Section 3: Operation and Maintenance of the Bee Farm
Section 4: Pests and Diseases of Honeybees
Beekeeping
(22 page
overview)
written by
Lance Gegner
of
ATTRA-
"This
publication
is intended
as a guide
for anyone
interested
in beginning
or expanding
a beekeeping
enterprise.
Whether the
bees are
kept as
pollinators
for crops or
for the
income from
their
products,
producers
need to be
aware of
their
states’
apiary laws
concerning
inspection,
registration,
and permits,
as well as
labeling and
marketing
standards.
Producers
also need to
be aware of
pesticide
application
laws and
pesticide
notification
laws
relative to
bees.
Both
beginning
and
experienced
beekeepers
need to
consider
li-ability
insurance;
the
possibility
of
Africanized
hybrid bees
taking over
the hives;
and all the
pests and
diseases
that afflict
bees and
their
colonies."
Introductory
Beekeeping
Powerpoint
Presentations This
is an
informative
8 part
introduction
to
beekeeping
developed by
master
beekeeper
Dana
Stahlman
from the
Ohio State
Beekeeping
Association
that
includes
topics like
starting a
colony,
diseases and
pests,
seasonal
management,
queen
production
and
management
of
nucs.
The first
year of
beekeeping
(Powerpoint) - A
fairly good
picture
based
powerpoint
from Dr.
Deborah
Delaney of
the
University
of Delaware
which
provides a
brief but
comprehensive
description
of "Hive
Mangement in
the First
Year of
Beekeeping".
1.1 Introduction: History,
Langstroth equipment, hive
placement (8:18 mins)
1.2 Hive and frame assembly and
painting (9:29 mins)
1.3 Placement of hive, feeding
and medications (9:29 mins)
2.1 Bee biology and
equipment (7:38 mins)
2.2 Receiving and installing
package bees (7:14 mins)
2.3 Releasing queens (6:43 mins)
2.4 Releasing queens and
stings (7:05 mins)
3.1 Maturing hives and migrating
hives (7:10 mins)
3.2 The brood nest (5 mins)
3.3 Our growing hives (5:49 mins)
3.4 Migrating our hives (9:18 mins)
4.1 Requeening (8 mins)
4.2 Queen Rearing (9:44 mins)
4.3 Package production beekeeping
associations (9:27 mins)
5.1 Diseases and Pests (8:52 mins)
5.2 Chalkbrood, sacbrood, moths,
tracheal mites (9:28 mins)
5.3 Varroa mites and
queenlessness (8:35 mins)
6.1 Harvesting, processing,
packaging and selling (6:45 mins)
6.2 Extracting honey (7:36 mins)
6.3 Packaging and selling
honey (6:11 mins)
6.4 Commercial honey
processing (6:32 mins)
7.1 Overwintering hives (6:06 mins)
7.2 Overwintering and one story
hives (8:20 mins)
7.3 Second season spring
management (5:30 mins)
7.4 Fall Management (4 mins)
Stewart Spinks of the Norfolk
Honey Company in the UK has produced and
is continuing to produce an
exhaustive series of over 200
videos that cover pretty much
every topic you may encounter from
your initial setup (hive
construction, painting, installing
bees, inspecting, diseases and
parasites.....) to catching
swarms, shook swarms, queen
rearing, overwintering, poly hives
etc... "Here you will find
resources to help you get started
in beekeeping, learn the basic
essentials for a successful first
year. Gain help and advice to take
you through into your second year
and beyond." You can access
all of the videos from the Norfolk Honey Company youtube
channel.
Beekeeping Video Resources
B.C. Honey Producers Education
Day Videos and Slides This is a large library of
videos and slides covering every
subject from overwintering 4 frame
nucs to evaluating honey flavour.
Brushy Mt Bee Farm
has a very large collection of
educational videos on pretty much
every topic of beekeeping.
Honey Bee Honey
has a good selection of videos on a
wide variety of topics like spring
management, hive inspection and fall
preparation for winter.
The folks at GardenFork have
produced a series entitled
Beekeeping 101
which covers a wide variety of
subjects any new beekeepers should
know.
A good collection of videos from
David Burns at
Long Lane Honey Bee Farms.
A selection of videos from the
legendary
Don the Fat Bee Man.
10. Bee Frames
First Year Beekeeping is presented by biologist, Randy Oliver on his website Scientific Beekeeping which is one of the best sources of beekeeping information available. "I’ve attempted to distill 50 year’s of beekeeping experience into a short set of instructions for starting out with bees in the Sierra Foothills. This page provides some quick step-by-step notes for your first year of beekeeping, written specifically for those starting with a nucleus hive or package bees purchased from me, but generally applicable. Since the vast majority of colony failures are due to lack of varroa management, I’ve covered this subject more extensively. For a summary of treatment options, scroll to the end (Randy Johnson)." As mentioned this website contains a wealth of regularly updated information on most beekeeping subjects.
At the end of the training, you will
be provided a link to the quiz
survey. You may also access the
quiz, directly, by clicking the
button or direct link below. To
begin the survey, you will be
required to enter your first and
last names and email address. Your
information and quiz results will be
recorded.1 A summary of your quiz
results will be provided at the end.
To keep a copy of your quiz results
for your own records, you may print
using your computer's print-screen
function.
Begin at the Beeginning:
This is an introductory beekeeping course from master beekeeper Janet Wilson which includes everything from hive components and acquiring bees to seasonal management, diseases and pests. It is written from a northwest perspective (West coast Vancouver, Coastal Washington State). It's a fairly complete beginners course with links to expert resources (i.e. Randy Oliver). "Week by week we will explore together the canon of knowledge which is Beginning Beekeeping. We will both cover the usual course outline for beginning beeks, and chat about what we are finding in our hives, and in the beeyard, at this time of year (we are beginning in mid July in the Pacific Northwest, in an unprecedentedly dry and sunny summer). The main focus of our learnings will be giving you tools to prevent colony loss. Upwards of 80% of new beekeepers quit beekeeping in under three years, likely out of frustration when their bees keep dying. Bees are precious, and expensive. So we will emphasize what it takes to keep bees alive, using lots of web content and resources."
Certificate in Beekeeping:
This is a fairly complete beginners beekeeping course from the Indira Ghandi National Open University. The course focuses on beekeeping in India with an awareness of the preference for the more productive introduced European honey bee. The course covers subjects like bee biology, beekeeping history, bee flora and pollination, seasonal management, pests and diseases, hive products and the economics of beekeeping. The course is accompanied by several manuals available to view or be downloaded from the University website.
Beginner Beekeeping Course:
This is a beginner beekeeping course from Amazing Bees in Australia which includes bee biology, rules, regulations and registration, hive inspection, honey extraction, swarming, queen replacement, winter prep and feeding. It covers most everything a new beekeeper in Australia needs to know.
Beginner Beekeeping Short Course from the Virginia Cooperative Extension.
Beekeeping Tests
The legendary master beekeeper Dana Stahlman has an online course which is being worked on at present but he has a test for the beginner, advanced and master beekeeper which are useful tools. Check it out at Gobeekeeping.
Biosecurity Manual for the Honey Bee Industry (Australian Government)
Best Management Practices for Beekeeping (Australian Government)
Asian Honey Bee Manual (Australian Government)
Easy Beekeeping for Hobbyists in New Zealand by Tudor Caradoc-Davies
This is the first of a 9 part
video series,
Understanding Bee Anatomy
by Dr. Ian Stell
The multifunctional glands of the honey bees's head
The honey bees's eyes and vision
The remarkable brain of the bee
The honey bees's eyes and vision
Anatomy of the bee antennae
Bee metamorphosis: Remarkable internal changes
How do bees bite and suck?
The mandibles of the honey bee
The multifunctional glands of the honey bees's head
The honey bees's eyes and vision
The remarkable brain of the bee
The honey bees's eyes and vision
Anatomy of the bee antennae
Bee metamorphosis: Remarkable internal changes
How do bees bite and suck?
The mandibles of the honey bee

1. Digestive and excretory systems.
2. Circulatory, respiratory, and
nervous systems.
3. Endocrine system.
4. Reproductive organs.
A Microscope Atlas of the Honey Bee (U.S.D.A.)
Basic Bee Biology and Identification (The Xerces Society)
Basic Bee Biology for Beekeepers (MAAREC)
Honey Bee Biology by Dr. Debbie Delaney (University of Delaware)
Honey Bee Biology by Rick Fell (Virginia Tech)
Biology and Anatomy of the Honey Bee by D. Lesco and T. Lulec
Biology of Bees - Hymenoptera Apoidea (Russian Academy of Sciences)
Biology of the Honey Bee (CIHEAM)
This video, "Biology of the Honey
Bee" is presented by Dr. Jamie
Ellis, Professor of Entomology
from the University of
Florida.
Videos
Bee Biology
with Larrry Connor from Wicas
Press
The Biology of Wintering Bees
by Medhat Nasr, Provincial Apiarist,
Alberta, Canada
Useful Beekeeping Websites
Beekeeping Glossary
Glossary of terms use in Beekeeping
Flow Frame Instructional Manual
Keeping a hive at someone's home written agreement
Honey and Infant Botulism by John Durkacz (S.B.A.)
Honey Bee Sting Pain Study by Michael Smith (Cornell University)
Normal and allergic reactions to insect stings
Odds of death by stings
Informative Beekeeping Websites:
Dave Cushman's website
Scientific Beekeeping (Randy Oliver)
Michael Bush's website
Bee Informed
Ohio State Beekeepers
Cooperative Extension
Virginia Cooperative Extension
Beesource
Pollinator Partnership
Xerces Society
Project Apis m.
MAAREC
Bee Culture
American Bee Journal
The BeeMD
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
It's important to have a purpose/s
when inspecting a hive. Why
are you inspecting and what are you
looking for? An argument can
be made that new beekeepers can only
improve their skills by regular
weekly inspections but the
disruption to the colony is real and
should be minimized. A
beekeeper can learn a great deal by
observing the entrance to the
hive. The book "At the Hive Entrance" explains the value of being
able to calculate a hive health by
observing the outside of the
hive. In this video Paul
Kelly, research and apiary manager
(University of Guelph, Canada),
shows how to open a bee hive and in
the following video he will describe
what you are looking for.
A
list of frequently asked
questions
on the University of Guelph Honey
Bee Research Centre website.
These videos are from University of
Guelph's video series which can be
found in the
video series section
of our Library.
The Hive Inspection
- What are you looking for
and what do you see?
of flight. The rule of thumb is to
smoke the bees a little and smoke
them often. Give them 2 or 3
puffs of smoke in the entrance and
under the lid before opening the
hive. After that, giving them
1 or 2 puffs of smoke across the
frames before you remove each frame
will usually keep them
calm. Smoke under each box before
removing it. If the bees get
aggressive, put a LOT of smoke
in the air. This will mask the alarm
scent and some of the bees will seek
shelter inside the hive..."
Jerry Freeman, Ashley County
Beekeepers Association, Arkansas.
September Inspection, Menifee County, Kentucky.
An inspection sheet helps keep
things organized and allows easy
comparison from one inspection to
the next. It helps keep new
beginners from overlooking something
important. I encourage you to
use one of these or one of the many
available apps. As you become
more experienced you will make up
your own checklist that suits your
needs. There are many apps and
software programs for tracking your
hives like Hive Tracks, BeeCloud and Beetight.
Swarm Control
Swarm Intelligence with Tom
Seeley
Swarm Control:
University of Guelph Honey Bee
Research Centre
Swarm Catching
Swarm Traps: What you need to know
to be successful (Brown's Beef and
Bees)
The "Biology of Wintering Bees" by
Medhat Nasr, Provincial Apiarist,
Alberta, Canada.
Winter Management Webinars
Hives
Observation Hives
Parts
All Season
Ventilation/Insulation Box (in
place of inner cover) by Tim
Arheit (Honeyrunapiaries.com)
Nucs
5. When moving the nuc you need only
close off the entrance with duct
tape. The bees will have plenty of
ventilation from the bottom screen.
Frames
Bottom Boards and Racks
Feeders
Pollen Traps
Queens
Vacuum
Parts for Pests
Insulated Moisture Quilt
Ventilation/Insulation Box
Transporting
English translation: The
large bicycle tires (57-406, 20 x
2, 125) give the sack barrow a
particularly good ride suitability in uneven terrain. The
wide wheelbase provides a good grip
against slip of the Hives. The Prey truck for hives to max. 46
cm width. If your hives be wider than 46
cm, is only an adaptation of Pos. 1 and
2 (see Plan A) to the desired width make. The construction of the prey
truck based on both a
comfortable posture and on
the great usability with secure stand
against overturning.
Ventilation/Insulation Box
Heating and Ventilating
Elephants
Bears
A Starter's Guide for using
Electric Fencing to Deter Bears by
K. Annis (M.F.W.P Bear
Specialist)

Honey Extraction

Hive Care
Beehive Construction Resource
Websites
- A great collection of plans and
videos from Steve Tilmann and the
Michigan Beekeepers Association.
Michigan Beekeepers Association
Beekeepers Workshop Videos
- Dave Cushman's drawings of
National Bee Hive Component
Parts. (UK)
- DIY Hive Construction Plans and
Tools
from UK Beekeeping Forum.
- Plans for bee hive components from
FreeWoodworkingPlan.com.
Diseases and Pests
Pests
Introduction to Varroa Mites and Integrated Pest Management from the Honey Bee Health Coalition
Varroa Population Dynamics from the UoG Honey Bee Research Centre
Tools for Varroa Management: A guide to effective varroa sampling and control
Every honey bee colony in the continental United States and Canada either has Varroa mites today or will have them within several months. Varroa mite infestation represents one of the greatest threats to honey bee health, honey production, and pollination services. When honey bee colonies are untreated
Scientific Beekeeping (Randy Oliver) Varroa Management
Biology and Control of Varroa Destructor (University of Hohenheim)
Sampling Colonies for Varroa Destructor by G. Reuter and M. Spivak (U. of Minnesota)
Alternative Strategies for Control of Varroa Mites in Europe (Apimondia)
Aspects of Varroa Reproduction as possible new control method by D. Anderson (Australian Government)
Mite-A-Thon "Mite-A-Thon is a
tri-national effort to collect mite
infestation data and to visualize
Varroa infestations in honey bee
colonies across North America within a
two week window. All beekeepers can
participate, creating a rich
distribution of sampling sites in
Canada, the United States, and Mexico.
Their Varroa monitoring data will be
uploaded to
www.mitecheck.com." (from the
Pollinator Partnership)
Varroa Mite Management Videos
Testing
Powdered Sugar Shake and Alcohol
Wash (Honey Bee Health Coalition)
Varroa Sticky Boards (UoG Honey Bee Research Centre)
4 minute alcohol wash mite test by Randy Oliver
Randy Oliver's Varroa Model for determining mite population dynamics to help in creating a mite management strategy.
Treatment
How to use Apivar (HBHC)
How to use Formic Acid (HBHC)
How to use HopGuard (HBHC)
How to use Oxalic Acid (HBHC)
Drone Brood Removal (HBHC)
Honey Bee Health Coalition bee club
presentation (powerpoint)
*HBHC = Honey Bee Health Coalition
James Ellis at the
National Honey Show
Small Hive Beetle Videos
Tracheal Mites
Wax Moth
Wax Moth and it's Control
(Australian Government)Protection of Honey Combs from Moth Damage (Swiss Bee Research Centre)
Florid Fly
Mosquitoes
The heavy-duty straps and the heavy
rocks were no match for the bear. This
time he got the queen too and so many
bees that there's nothing left. The
bees did give a good fight as seen in
the video and the bear had to retreat
a few times, but it is all done.
(Avner Skolnik)

How to install an electric fence (Defenders of Wildlife)
Bear Fence Test (NOLS)
*For us in North America the best
control of Wasps is to catch the
overwintered Queens in spring.
The newly mated queens are the only
members of the wasp colony to survive
the winter. You can also,
dressed in your beekeeping protective
gear, drown an in-ground nest or bag a
hanging nest early in the morning
(when most of the wasps are in the
nest) and submerge it in water.
No toxins are required in these means
of disposing of the nests or in traps
described below. When using
traps our wasps tend to be more
attracted to protein early in the
season (they are feeding their brood)
and sugar from late summer to
fall. Add vinegar to the sugar
solution in your traps to deter the
bees. To help protect our hives we
reduce our entrances in late summer
when the wasps leave their nests to
forage so that the hive is easier to
defend. If the wasps gain
entrance to the hive a
robber screen
is a useful defense.
Yellowjacket species build nests below
the soil in mouse burrows or in
similar sites, also between walls or
in the attics of houses. Worker
yellowjackets rear and feed the brood
and also forage for food. The queen
remains inside the nest laying eggs.
Colonies expand rapidly and may total
up to 5,000 workers when maximum size
is attained in August or September. In
the fall, inseminated queens seek
sheltered spots for
overwintering. Yellowjackets eat
bee brood, rob honey, and sometimes
kill the queen or the colony. Weak
colonies are especially susceptible.
In general, yellowjackets become pests
of honeybees in late summer through
fall and are more serious pests in dry
years."
Skunks
Skunks can be a problem for
beekeepers though they are
usually not a major threat
and fairly easy to
deter (like most issues a bigger threat
to weaker colonies). They are nocturnal
visitors and evidence of their
presence can be detected in ground
scraping in front of the entrance,
scraping on the bottom board or
lower super, agitated bees,
shrinking population, holes (they
like to dig for grubs) and scat
containing bee carcasses (Evidence of skunks in the
beeyard
- Ian Steppler) . The skunks may be a
benefit to you and your bees by
digging up and preying on wasp
nests and rodents (that may winter
in the hive). Their M.O.
(modus operandi) is to scratch on
the hive to bring bees out to
investigate which they eat as they
exit the hive. A small
percentage of skunks will scratch
on the hive and eat the bees as
they settle on the ground unable
to navigate in the dark (lower bee
fatality - Skunk feeding on ground bees
(Frederick Dunn)).
There are
several methods of skunk
defense. Raising the hive
(12 inches or more) forces the
skunk to stand leaving their
belly exposed to stinging.
This method is effective.
In the video above Ian Steppler
found placing the hives on
pallets effective. If
possible raising it high enough
makes the hive
inaccessible. Raising a
hive that high is not a
practical solution for
most. Another method is
placing a 2-4 inch wide board
over the hive entrance.
This method prevents the skunk
eating all the bees exiting the
hive. The bees not caught
will commence stinging.
Chicken wire (rolled or
surrounding) around the entrance
prevents the skunk eating them
as they exit. A carpet
tack board or bear board under
the hive entrance makes for an
uncomfortable stance. If
you have an electric fence
lowering the bottom wire (or
adding) is effective and if you
have few hives a fence buried at
least a foot deep can be
effective (they love to
dig).
Solar powered motion
detectors
may work if you have the money,
the sun and are not annoyed by
the sound or flashing
light. I have found store
bought
animal repellent
works on squirrels and rats for
me. It is supposed to work
on skunks. The concept is
that it replicates the smell of
a predator (i.e. coyote
urine). There are several
d.i.y recipes for deterrent
sprays using pepper, urine,
vinegar and ammonia and citrus
(D.I.Y Recipes). While they can be a
nuisance and washing a skunked
dog is a pain a mother skunk
followed by a string of baby
skunks is pretty
cute.
![]() |
Connecticut Wildlife Rehabilitators Association |
Skunk Behavior in the Bee Yard
(Mark Headings, Ohio State
University)
Prevention of Deformed Wing Virus by dsRNA ingestion (University of Manitoba)
Nosema
Foulbroods
Chalkbrood
Deformed Wing Virus
Dysentery
CCD
Pathogen Webs in Collapsing Honey
Bee Colonies (N.C. State, U. of
Maryland, U.S.D.A)
"On-site" Replication of CCD
(Harvard, Worcester County
B.A.)
"Hygienic honeybee colonies are those
in which dead and diseased brood is
rapidly removed from the colony,
thereby reducing the amount of
inoculum present. Hygienic behaviour
is a trait present in about 20% of
Australian honeybee colonies. Some
researchers claim that highly hygienic
colonies are strongly resistant to the
major diseases of honeybees including
American and European foul brood,
Chalk brood and Sac brood. Hygienic
bees are also claimed to be resistant
to the parasitic mite Varroa. Hygienic
behaviour is usually measured by using
liquid nitrogen to freeze-kill a small
patch of brood. Hygienic colonies
uncap and remove the dead brood within
24 hours whereas this process takes
several days with non-hygienic
colonies. The first studies of
hygienic behaviour were conducted in
the 1960s. Walter Rothenbuhler crossed
a strongly hygienic line with a
strongly non-hygienic line. The
resulting F1 colonies were not
hygienic. Rothenbuhler then raised
daughters off an F1 queen backcrossed
these to drones of the hygienic
parent. He then evaluated these
colonies for hygienic behaviour. The
pattern of expression of hygienic
behaviour among these backcross
colonies suggested that the trait was
controlled by two separate genes, one
that controlled uncapping behaviour,
the other which controlled removal
behaviour."
Medications and
Stress
Essential Oils
Brief Beekeeping guide to
Essential Oils (Wikibooks)
The Use of Essential Oils to Control Varroa Jacobsoni (Swiss Apiculture Institute)
Essential Oils and the Beekeeping Industry's Survival by Ross Conrad
Feeding Essential Oils in Syrup and Liquid Protein to Control Varroa (IBRA)
The Use of Essential Oils to Control Varroa Jacobsoni (Swiss Apiculture Institute)
Essential Oils and the Beekeeping Industry's Survival by Ross Conrad
Feeding Essential Oils in Syrup and Liquid Protein to Control Varroa (IBRA)
General
Why should parasite
resistance be costly? (U.C.
Santa Barbara and U. of
Vermont)
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Hygienic bees removing infested larvae |
Comparative study of the hygienic
behavior of Carniolan and
Africanized honey bees (U. of Sao
Paulo)
Fat Bees Skinny Bees - a manual on honey bee nutrition for beekeepers by Doug Somerville (Australian Government). This publication provides information on the known essential chemical requirements of honey bees including the components of nectar and pollen. Pollens with a protein level around 25% or greater have been recognised as excellent quality pollens, those less than 20% have been described as of a poor quality. Australia has had more pollens analysed than any other country, and for the first time all of the profiles of the analysis are presented, representing 183 species. There is some evidence that pollens from the same genus, i.e., closely related plants, exhibit similar nutritional values in regards to pollen chemical composition. Lack of nectar or stored honey presents the beekeeper with various sets of problems. These scenarios are discussed with the most appropriate course of action. Likewise, lack of pollen or poor quality pollen creates its own set of problems, often exacerbated by the stimulus of a nectar flow. How to recognise the need to provide pollen supplement and the circumstances which may lead a beekeeper to invest in this practice are discussed. Some facts about honey bee nutrition include; nectar flows stimulate hygienic behaviour; total protein intake is what should be considered, not so much the individual chemical properties of individual pollens; fats in pollen act as strong attractants to foraging bees, although increasing concentrations in pollen limit brood rearing; vitamins are very unstable and deteriorate in stored pollen; principal cause of winter losses is starvation, not cold...
Honey Bee Nutrition by Eric Mussen (UC Davis)
Honey Bee Nutrition by Zachery Huang (Michigan State U.)
Honey Bee Nutrition - Review of Research and Practices by J. Black (Australian Government)
Honey (not sugar) constituents up-regulate immunity and detoxification genes in Honey Bees (University of Illinois)
The Benefits of Pollen to Honey Bees (University of Florida)
Considerations in Selecting Sugars for feeding to Honey Bees by R. Barker (U.S.D.A)
Feeding Bees Pollen Substitute by Dr. E. Mussen (UC Davis)
Honey Substitution Chart for Feeding Bees (National Honey Board)
Nutrition Section
of Scientific Beekeeping (Randy
Oliver) which includes studies on a
variety of topics like light or heavy
syrup?; probiotics; beebread; pollen
substitutes and more.
Bee Feeding Recipes by Cass Cohenour
Recipe for a Pollen Substitute (Scottish Beekeepers Association)
Pollen Substitute Patties by DC
Honeybees
Adding Sugar Bricks to Beehives from
Mud Songs.
Feeders
Feeder Types from
Brushy Mt Bee Farm.
Pollinators
Native Bee Identification
Humble (Bumble) Bees
Conserving Bumble Bees:
Guidelines for creating and
managing habitat (The Xerces
Society)