Bee Keeping
Bees Up In Smoke
Bees Up In Smoke This is not a reference to a popular movie in 1978, but smoke (not cannabis smoke) is regularly used to help many beekeepers work with bees. The smoker instrument in the wrong hands, or misused, can cause harm to bees. Seasoned beekeepers more commonly use the smoker process, but its use…
Read MoreCan Bees Predict Weather?
Can Bees Predict Weather? Bees are known to be able to predict a storm on the way. As we enter the rainy and stormy season in many parts of the nation, knowing what to expect and recognizing different behaviors allows beekeepers to help prepare their hives for the upcoming weather. Rainstorms most often bring lightning,…
Read MoreThe Gentle Bees
The Gentle Bees Although honeybees and bumble bees tend to get most of the attention, there are more than 20,000 species of bees in the United States. Among those numbers are several species that are gentler than honeybees, including Mason and Leafcutter bees. Both species are highly effective pollinators and help gardens thrive and ecosystems…
Read MoreCan Bees Collect Too Much Pollen?
Can Bees Collect Too Much Pollen? We are fascinated with bees. Bees throughout history, their role in medicine, beauty, honey production, and pollination are a few of the things we focus on most. Some may wonder if there can be too much of a good thing: pollen. As adaptable as bees are, and how they…
Read MoreBee Venom Use in Medicine
Bee Venom Use in Medicine A bee sting is never fun; even beekeepers who are accustomed to it don’t like it. Locating and pulling out the stinger that is lodged in the skin can cause swelling and itchiness. Bee venom causes these symptoms, but it is also being used in modern medicine. For thousands of…
Read MoreBees and Climate Change
Bees and Climate Change Climate change directly impacts bees, and without bees, we have no crops, sparse gardens, and limited fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Bees work tirelessly to keep our ecosystems alive, but they are now facing growing threats from climate change. Changing bloom times, devastating droughts, and fires make it difficult for bees to…
Read More